site.btaNon-Food Trade Association Says Consumer Protection Act Amendments Create Excessive Powers for Regulatory Authorities

The proposed amendments to the Consumer Protection Act create excessive powers for regulatory authorities and a risk of arbitrariness against businesses, the Non-Food Trade Association (NFTA) said in a position received by the Bulgarian News Agency on Wednesday.

In its opinion submitted to the Ministry of Economy and Industry, the Association outlines the main problems with the amendments: the possibility of blocking websites without a confirmed violation, doubling fines alongside a ban on raising prices, and procedures for serving notices under which a company manager may never become aware that proceedings have been initiated against them.

“One of the most controversial provisions in provides for the blocking of a trader’s website and online shop if the control authorities of the Consumer Protection Commission (CPC) fail to serve a notice of violation three times within 10 days. In such a case, the order is published only on the CPC’s website, without direct notification to the affected business, and after three days access to the trader’s website is blocked,” NFTA noted.

“An additional problem is that the order to suspend the website begins to be enforced before it has been established that a violation has been committed. If the trader decides to appeal, the case may continue for months, during which time the business will operate without a website,” the Association added.