THE CONSUMERS’ RIGHTS

The last year, as a result of the abolition of the Price Committee Institution and subsequently the control of prices, of the uncontrolled increases of prices and dishonest speculation and of the offering of inappropriate products, the need for a bigger activation of the consumers has been created. The need has been created for the assertion of their rights, for their protection and intervention in every matter which involves prices, the quality of the offered products, the violation of legislation, their education and in being informed, the clamp – down of such measures on behalf of the state which will improve their position in society.
It is a fact that during the last 20 – 30 years, due to the huge changes that have occurred in peoples’ lives (technological, social, demographic), important changes have also came about in the mentality and behaviour of consumers. Their dietary, their preference for one or the other consumer good has differentiated.
In the contemporary era, the era of sheer consumerism the need for the protection of the consumer has became more imperative, the assertion of basic rights of the consumers has been rendered imperative.
The basic rights of the consumer are as follows:     

• The right of safety and health
• The right of information
• The right of choice
• The right of compensation
• The right of education
• The right of representation
• The right of a Healthy Environment

Retail Trade: The Law of 2000 regarding the Superscription of the Sale Price and the Unit Price of Products offered to consumers.

• The aim of the Law is to define the superscription of the sale price and the unit price of measurement of products which are offered to consumers by traders so that the briefing of the consumers is improved and the comparison of prices is facilitated.
• “Sale price” means the final price which applies for one item of the product for a given quantity of the product, including the Value Added Tax and the rest of the taxes.
• “Unit price” or “price of unit” means the final price, including the Value Added Tax and all the rest of the taxes which apply for the quantity of a kilogram, a litre, a metre, a square metre or a cubic metre of the product.
• A trader who sells or exhibits products for sale to consumers must ensure that the sale price is superscripted on them.  
• The above obligation of the trader does not apply for products which are offered for sale to the consumers generally, on which the unit price is superscripted.
• When the sale price is mentioned in advertisements or product catalogues, the unit price of the product will be stated.

The way of price indication is as follows:
(a) The sale price and the unit price must be superscripted in Cyprus Pounds.
(b) No other price, except from the sale price and the unit price, is superscripted on products.
(c) The sale price and the unit price must be:
(i) clear – cut, easily recognisable, distinguishable and legible and  
(ii) superscripted on the products or their packing or the shelves of the store where     the products are placed so that the consumer is not confused.
Another example is the Prototype C YS 33/1978 which involves the establishment of an informative label on packaged foods. This label must include:

• the name of the Foods or drinks
• a catalogue of ingredients
• a clear content indication
• name and address of the manufacturer and the country of origin.