ACR Malta - About Us - Association for Consumer Rights

About us

Association for Consumer Rights (Malta)
Mission Statement

The Association is committed to safeguard the interests of consumers in Malta in all aspects. The Association shall use all its resources to achieve this aim

Objectives
Objectives

To act as a pressure group and see that legislation beneficial to consumers is enacted and relevant measures are implemented in an active and effective manner.
To create consumer awareness with regards to products, services and methods of production which may be supplied both by the private and public sector.
To represent consumers in the preparation, formulation and implementation of relevant policies in order to safeguard their interests.
To assist consumers in seeking adequate redress and compensation resulting from the purchase of goods and services.
To ensure that consumers are offered quality services including product safety, adequate standards and the protection of the environment.
To ensure that decisions taken and criteria adopted by the respective authorities at national, European and global level are accessible to the consumers
To monitor market practices with the aim of bringing them to the attention of the relevant authorities with the aim of curbing any unfair commercial practice.
To provide recommendations to the Authorities regarding standards regulating advertising.

European Commission Consumer Group (ECCG)

ACR Pauline Azzopardi, Hon Treasurer is alternate member on the European Commission Consumer Group (ECCG) meetings held in Brussels. ANEC provides ACR updated information on current legislation and relevant enforcement procedures at EU level on a regular basis

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) Consumer and Environment Category
ACR General Secretary Grace Attard, member of the (EESC) is a permanent member of the Consumer and Environment Category and participates in Meetings, Public Hearings and Study Groups on different aspects of Consumer rights and protection.
The Consumer Affairs portfolio is in the hands of a new Commissioner from Croatia, Mr Neven Mimica. He is currently carrying out an overhaul of legislation and enforcement measures to address shortcomings. The members of the Consumers Category also had a discussion with Ms Spanou, DG SANCO, Consumer Protection Directorate
one year on progress in the European Consumer Agenda and the following points among others were addressed:
Finalising of pending legislation before the EP Elections
Areas that need particular attention are:

Data protection (to be launched next year)
Financial Services and Education
Product Safety and Market Surveillance in particular with enforcing trace ability information on labeling of products and Strengthening the Rapid Alert System (RAS)
Medical devices reference was made to recent scandal eg: breast implant. There is the need for more legal certainty and stricter scrutiny especially in high risk medical devices
Accessibility and transparency in Bank payments especially in bank switching transactions
Empowering consumers in the energy sector- a consumer-producer future ( already in place in Germany)
A Single Market for Telecommunications
Addressing the needs of vulnerable consumer; emphasis on vulnerability of children to online access
Addressing over-indebtedness as a result of the financial crisis
Roaming Charges
Lack of adequate standardisation discrepancies between member states

Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD)
Mary Mangion, ACR President and Marie Demicoli Assistant Secretary have been elected representative and alternate respectively on the MCESD Civil Society Committee representing consumers

Association for Consumer Rights Malta
Executive Committee 2016
President: Mary Mangion
Vice President: Anna Dalli
Hon. Treasurer: Pauline Azzopardi
Hon. General Secretary: Grace Attard
Asst. Secretary: Marie Demicoli
Public Relations Officer: Barbara Buttigieg
Members: Lina Caruana
Jeanette Borg
Magda Magri Naudi