Cover Story
Winter 2017 / Issue 52
Cover Story
The local fight
The situation in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia requires improvement from a legal perspective to ensure a wide range of consumer protections . Legal framework on consumer protection is not fully aligned with the EU acquis , in particular as regards consumer rights and consumer alternative dispute resolution . Consumer organisations exist , but are weak and provide only awareness-raising activities on non-safety-related issues ; State grants only cover advisory services and fees to international consumer organisations . Also , the existing mediation scheme is too expensive for consumers . The Ministry of Economy operates with limited resources when protecting the consumer and this is a serious impediment in ensuring effectiveness .
The country ’ s general product safety framework is also not sufficiently in line with the acquis . The State Market Inspectorate operates with a very limited budget , but still manages to carry out some 1,000 inspections on an annual basis in connection with the general product safety law . In 2015 , 200 inspections were of construction products while the rest were of household appliances , windows , doors , toys and children ’ s clothing . As a result , illicit goods were withdrawn from the market or their import was banned . In 2015 , the State Sanitary and Health Inspectorate tested 208 samples of toys and found non-compliance in 10 cases .
Detection of counterfeit medicines is still not legally authorised and the analyses produced by the country ’ s three public laboratories are ignored by the courts . The lack of awareness of the threats to health and safety allows for counterfeit foodstuffs , cosmetics , toiletries , medicines , toys , technical and electronic equipment to be sold from stalls , in the streets , in markets and other outlets . Cyber security in the country is low and there is no strategic approach to ensuring efficiency in this area . The lack of administrative resources in the Ministry of Economy continues to hamper effective policy implementation and coordination . On product safety-related issues , further efforts are needed by regulatory bodies to ensure effective consumer protection and complete alignment with the General Product Safety Directive . In addition to health and safety concerns , counterfeits harm the economy by damaging legitimate businesses and starving innovation ; many jobs are also put at risk . Against this threat , there is only one thing to do – EU and national authorities should aim for a zero-tolerance policy against the distribution of counterfeit goods . That ’ s why cooperation between authorities – both at the national and international level – to trace counterfeit channels and tackle the ‘ counterfeit pyramid ’ is so important .
AMCHAM MAGAZINE 19