The 4th International Consumer Protection Week is taking place in Tbilisi, with the aim of strengthening the importance of consumer rights protection and promoting public awareness of consumer-related issues.
The opening event featured welcoming remarks by representatives of the executive and legislative bodies of government. The heads of the regulatory authorities organizing the initiative also addressed the audience, emphasizing the significance of the event and outlining both national and international instruments aimed at strengthening consumer protection.
In his remarks, Irakli Lekvinadze, Chairman of the Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency (GCCA), highlighted that Georgia will chair the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN) in 2026-2027. He noted that this represents recognition of the country’s institutional development, its successful international cooperation, and the significant progress achieved in the field of consumer protection.
“In this context, it is particularly noteworthy that in 2025 the Agency received the Consumer Education Award established by ICPEN and the World Bank. This distinction confirms that enhancing consumer awareness and education remains one of the Agency’s key priorities”, stated the Chairman of the GCCA.
During his address, Irakli Lekvinadze also referred to several key guidelines developed by the Agency.
“Effective consumer protection requires not only a robust legal framework but also clear and practical guidance. In this regard, the Agency developed several important documents in 2025, including the E-commerce Guidelines, the Guide to the Standards Established by the Agency during 2022-2025, and the Principles and Best Practices on Environmental Claims”, he noted.
The Chairman also highlighted the important standards developed through the Agency’s enforcement practice, which contribute to safeguarding consumer interests and promoting fair commercial practices in the market.
As part of the opening day, panel discussions on consumer protection issues were held, focusing on existing challenges in the field and the standards introduced to address them. During the event, the Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency presented its guidelines on e-commerce and environmental claims.
The International Consumer Protection Week is organized in connection with World Consumer Rights Day, which is marked annually on 15 March. Within the framework of the week, additional events will be held in Gardabani, Gori, Batumi, and Tskaltubo. During these meetings, representatives of the organizing institutions will discuss the legislative framework governing consumer protection, enforcement mechanisms, the results achieved in recent years, and the newly developed guidance documents, while also responding to questions from participants.
The 4th International Consumer Protection Week is organized by the Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency, the Georgian National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission, the Georgian National Communications Commission, the National Bank of Georgia, the Insurance State Supervision Service of Georgia, and the National Food Agency.
