Cap. 510 Art. 17Responsibilities of the Office for Consumer Affairs. Cap. 378.

(1) The responsibilities of the Office for Consumer Affairs shall be the following:

(a) to provide information, advice and guidelines to the public relating to consumer issues;

(b) to monitor trading practices relating to the provision of goods and services to consumers, and to take measures for the suppression and prevention of any practices which may be detrimental to the interests of consumers;

(c) to receive and investigate complaints from consumers relative to the supply of goods and services and to take such action as in its power to redress any justified grievance that may come to its notice;

(d) to provide consumers with ongoing advice concerning their rights;

(e) to direct consumers to the appropriate organisation which is best placed to assist them with specific complaints;

(f) to encourage traders to comply with consumer law and to promote good trading practices in the carrying out of activities which may affect the economic interests of consumers in Malta;

(g) to provide traders with advice on matters relating to consumer affairs;

(h) to provide mediation between consumers and traders;

(i) to keep under review markets and commercial activities relating to the supply of goods and services and to collect information and evidence for the purpose of ascertaining whether such markets and activities may adversely affect the interests of consumers;

(j) to study markets and recommend remedial action where required;

(k) to assist the Council in the performance of its functions and duties and to furnish such information as may be required by the Council in relation to the exercise of its duties;

(l) to advise public authorities about the implications for consumers arising from proposals for legislation;

(m) to provide advice to public authorities on the consumer issues which may arise in the performance of their functions;

(n) to advise on the impact on consumer interests that legislation, policy or administrative practices may have;

(o) to serve as and perform the functions of the national competent authority in terms of the Consumer Protection Co-operation Regulation;

(p) to serve as and perform the functions of the single liaison office in Malta responsible for co-ordinating the application of the Consumer Protection Co-operation Regulation;

(q) to develop the necessary strategies for the performance of its responsibilities;

(r) to assist in the drawing up of the Authority’s business plan;

(s) to advise the Board on matters of consumer interest;

(t) to submit an annual report on its work to the Board; and

(u) generally to exercise the powers conferred upon it under this Act, the Consumer Affairs Act or any other law or regulations in relation to consumer affairs.

(2) In exercise of the responsibilities mentioned in paragraphs

(i) and (j) and article 14(2) shall apply to the mutatis mutandis Director General (Consumer Affairs).

(3) Nothing in this Act or in any other law shall be construed to give any consumer a right to require the Director General (Consumer Affairs) to act on his behalf and in his interest in any particular matter or dispute with any trader or supplier of services before any court, tribunal or arbiter.