With the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Government of Sweden, training was conducted for the employees of the Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency (GCCA) in the e-commerce sector. The training aimed to ensure the effective implementation of policies for protecting consumer rights.
Irakli Lekvinadze, the Chairman of the Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency, opened the meeting and addressed the participants, Chairman thanked UNDP and the Swedish government for their active support of GCCA.
“One of the primary aims for the GCCA is to gain international support, share best practices, and effectively enforce consumer rights protection legislation in the e-commerce sector. We appreciate the collaboration of UNDP and the Swedish government.
The GCCA began enforcing the Law on the Protection of Consumer Rights in 2022, and the Law of Georgia on Electronic Commerce begin in 2024. During this time, we reviewed around 1500 cases and successfully restored the rights of thousands of consumers. Furthermore, we created essential guidelines and standards based on consumer preferences. We frequently participate in international events held by UNCTAD and ICPEN,"- Irakli Lekvinadze stated during the meeting.
The workshop took place on September 18-19 at the United Nations House. The purpose was to develop a guidance document on electronic commerce and enhance the qualifications of the Agency's employees. The goal is to successfully apply theoretical knowledge in practice, using examples from EU countries.
Piotr Adamczewski, Director of the Poland Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK), led the training as an invited expert. GCCA employees discussed legal enforcement mechanisms in the e-commerce sector, challenges in identifying violations and investigating cases, methods of collaboration with interested parties, and internationally recognized strategic approaches to consumer protection, using practical examples.
For information: In 2022, the Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency began enforcing Georgia's Law on the Protection of Consumer Rights, followed by the Law on Electronic Commerce in 2024. Experts from the EU-funded TWINNING project assessed the Agency's efforts over two years and discovered that Georgian consumer rights legislation is now 85% aligned with the directives of the association agreement signed with the European Union, up from 70%. In 2024, the Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency launched a new e-commerce project with funding from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Sweden.
