Consumer Day of Belarus
Description:
World Consumer Day was first observed on March 15, 1983, twenty years after President John F. Kennedy’s historic speech in which he proclaimed the four basic rights of consumers: safety, information, choice and the right to be heard. Four more were later added to these basic rights: the right to reparation, consumer education, basic needs and the right to a healthy environment.
On January 9, 2002, the Law of the Republic of Belarus “On Protection of Consumer Rights” was adopted. In accordance with this Law, any consumer has the right to:
- education in the field of consumer protection;
information about goods (works, services), as well as about their manufacturers (performers, sellers);
- safety of goods (works, services);
free choice of goods (works, services);
- proper quality of goods (works, services);
compensation in full for losses (harm) caused due to defects of the goods (work, service);
state protection of their rights;
- public protection of their rights;
appeal to the court and other authorized state bodies for the protection of violated rights or interests protected by this Law and other legislation, as well as the norms of international treaties in force for the Republic of Belarus;
- creation of public associations of consumers.
The World Consumer Organization, of which the Belarusian Society for Consumer Protection is a member, proposed that in 2008 the World Consumer Day be held on the theme “The Generation of Unhealthy Foods” and campaign to stop marketing unhealthy foods for children.
Consumer community of Belarus celebrated Consumer Day under the motto: “Healthy food is your choice, consumer!”
Events held within the framework of Consumer Day in Belarus were aimed at the formation of a food culture, the education of a culture of consumption. They will contribute to the motivation to decide what we consume, whether we eat right. And this is the duty of the consumer, the citizen to take responsibility for the health of their children, future generations.