in-cyprus 13 May 2021 - by Annie Charalambous
The Ministry of Commerce and industry will introduce Mystery Shopping by undercover officers in a bid to improve consumer protection, Minister Natasa Pilides told a press conference in Nicosia on Wednesday.
The law’s new provisions were approved by parliament last month last and violators of relevant consumer legislation will be handed fines as high as €500,000. The goal is the effective implementation of consumer legislation.
Undercover officers will be granted a special card to make purchases as part of the inspections that will provide valuable insights whether shopkeepers respect consumer laws or not.
The amended and strengthened law has seven specific provisions which regulate consumers’ interests related to the protection of their finances.
At the same time, the powers of the competent service were strengthened, which will be able to impose administrative fines for all violations.
