40 years

40 Years Cyprus Consumers Association HISTORY The Cyprus Consumers Association was founded in 1973 and joined the Consumers’ International as a full member in 1980 and BEUC in The Association is managed by a 20-member Council, elected every two years during a General Assembly. Committee members offer their services voluntarily. At present the association employs three full-time staff members and two part-timers. The Association has around 1400 paying members, but it provides services to all Cyprus Consumers.

40 Years Cyprus Consumers Association MISSION Our mission is to safeguard the consumers’ rights and educate and represent the Cyprus consumers in all local and International bodies dealing with consumer matters.

a) MASS MEDIA The staff and Council members take part in a number of radio and television programmes on issues concerning rights and problems of the consumer. b) EXHIBITIONS The staff and Council members participate in National trade and educational exhibitions in order to promote the association. 40 Years Cyprus Consumers Association MAIN ACTIVITIES

c)WORLD CONSUMER DAY The staff and Council members organise national campaign to pass the message to the Cyprus citizens ‘you are a consumer and you have rights’. This is observed every year on the 15 th March in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism and the trade Unions and Employers Federations. 40 Years Cyprus Consumers Association MAIN ACTIVITIES

d)REPRESENTATION The Association is very active promoting consumer interest in public life. Its representatives sit on:  Cyprus Standards Committees,  Government Council for Consumer Affairs,  Parliamentary committees when dealing with Consumers' matters. It also participates in some 30 advisory Committees on various issues connected with the consumers. 40 Years Cyprus Consumers Association MAIN ACTIVITIES

e)LOBBYING The Association is very active lobbying in Cyprus and Europe. 40 Years Cyprus Consumers Association MAIN ACTIVITIES

f)MARKET RESEARCH  Prices of goods,  Display of goods,  Hygiene,  Goods safety. AIM: High level of consumers protection 40 Years Cyprus Consumers Association MAIN ACTIVITIES

40 Years Cyprus Consumers Association CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND ADVICE The Association runs a complaints and advice service. Consumers could either phone or visit the office premises to file a complaint for problems ranging from faulty goods, bad workmanship, contracts, misleading adverts etc. The staff deals with the complaints directly or if needed in conjunction with governmental departments, such as the Agricultural Dept., the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, the Ministry of Health etc.

40 Years Cyprus Consumers Association SCHOOL OF CONSUMER EDUCATION The School was founded in Today there are branches in all the towns of Cyprus. Mission: to offer, to as many interested consumers as possible, specific information, knowledge and skills, which will permit them, to exercise a reasonable choice among the goods and services, offered on the market, which are most suited to their desire and economic interest. It also deals with their concerns with hygiene, safety, food and health and the environment. It offers them, knowledge regarding the existing laws of consumer protection as well as their rights and responsibilities.

40 Years Cyprus Consumers Association SCHOOL OF CONSUMER EDUCATION The Cyprus Consumers' Association runs the School without any financial aid either from the Government or any other individual or organization. A member of the Association's Committee organize, supervise and co-ordinate the school. The School functions from mid-October through to the end of May. Classes are held once a week and are free of charge.

40 Years Cyprus Consumers Association THE BEST SHIELD OF CONSUMER PROTECTION IS KNOWLEDGE

40 Years Cyprus Consumers Association 15/03/1962- Kennedy A/RES/39/ UN- A/RES/39/ March: WORLD CONSUMER DAY

“CONSUMERS BY DEFINITION, INCLUDE US ALL, THEY ARE THE LARGEST ECONOMIC GROUP, AFFECTING AND AFFECTED BY ALMOST EVERY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ECONOMIC DECISION. YET THEY ARE THE ONLY IMPORTANT GROUP... WHOSE VIEWS ARE OFTEN NOT HEARD.” JFK

40 Years Cyprus Consumers Association Thank you for your attention. 40 years