Sharing of Experience on

Consumer Protection

Myanmar, 11 – 15 Mar 2013

Dr Ni Ni Than
Professor
Department of Chemistry
University of Yangon

3. 6. 13 S-17
 Consumer Rights Enhances Standards of
Practice for a more Competitive Economy

 Sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign

Affairs of Singapore under the
framework of Initiative for ASEAN
Integration (IAI)

 Conducted by the Consumer

Association of Singapore at the
Myanmar-Singapore Training Centre
on 11-15 March 2013
 28 participants (the middle to senior
Participants of Training in
level management government
officials) attended the programme Consumer Protection
 Course Objectives

The legal framework governing consumer

protection in Singapore

Regulations and process in administering

legislation
Course Outline
 The roles of consumer body
 How it carries out these roles
 And an example of a legal framework for

consumer protection
 Course Methodology
 The course was conducted using lectures, group
discussion, simulation exercises and group
presentations.
Mr Seah Seng Choon
executive Director,
CASE

Mr Linus Ng
Director,
Advocate & Solicitor
Barrister at Law
 Day 1

Overview of Consumer Protection

 Various agencies that could play a role (Government,
Companies & Industry, NGO’s, International
Organisations and consumers)
 Basic Consumer Rights
 Enforcement and resources
 Collaboration and Cooperation
Overview of Consumer Protection

Government

Companies & NGOs

Industry (pressure groups)
Consumer’s
interest

International
Consumers
organisations

Key Stakeholders in consumer protection process

 Overview of Consumer Protection

Basic Consumer Rights

1. Right to safety
2. Right to choose
3. Right to information
4. Right to education
5. Right to be heard
6. Right to redress
7. Right to a clean environment
8. Right to clean water
(The above rights are also enshrined in the ASEAN
chapter for human rights, provision 28)
 Overview of Consumer Protection

Collaboration is critical for success

Legislations and regulations without effective
enforcement will not help to eradicate unfair
practices
Constant review of the law is necessary to keep up
with the changes in the market place
Consumer education is key to enhance consumers
protection and interest
 Day 2

Consumer Rights Enhances Standards of

Practice for a more Competitive Economy
Accreditation/Certification – a way to put in place standard of
practice
 Government, Industry, Regional and International
 Consumer Education
 Health Products Regulation
 Food Labeling Regulation
Consumer Rights Enhances Standards of
Practice for a more Competitive Economy
Ensure consistency in standards
Enhance competition
Ensure fair play – transparency, fair contract
Allow consumers to look for white list
Encourage good behavior
Accurate disclosures
Enhance consumer confidence
Use as a consumer protection instrument
 Consumer Education

 Why do we need to educate consumers?

 What do we tell our consumers?
 Travel Industry
 Renovation
 Food
 Information availability to consumers
 Health Products Regulation

 Health product regulation is the responsibility of the

Health Sciences Authority (HSA)
 Health Products such as Medicine, Cosmetics,
Tobacco regulations etc.
 Food Labeling Regulation

 Nutrition Claims and Labeling

 Vitamins/Mineral Claims
 Health Claims
 Prohibited Claims
 Special purpose foods & Specific food categories
 Warning statements
 Government Policies transform streets
hawkers in Singapore
 Deliberate government policy
 Careful planning
 Affordability
 Years of planning and development
 Need a strong political will to undertake such a project
 Resources needed to be put aside for the purpose
 Needs of the people and hawkers needed to be taken
into account
 Their government transformed the street hawkers’
shop into Food Republic and Food Court chain
Day 3

Simulation Exercise

consumer protection challenges arising from the

scenario about manufacturer of unsafe motor brakes.
 Simulation Exercise Summary

 The case was about there has been a recent spate of

motorcycle accidents involving a particular brand and
make.
 The motor brakes are all brand new. However their
brakes had suddenly failed when accident happened.
 We also received news that the manufacture of the
motorcycle had recently had a batch of motorcycles
rejected in another country due to unsafe brakes.
 We had to assume like a government official of the
country with almost unlimited resources and newly
independent Country.
what would we do to address the consumer protection
challenges arising from the above scenario?

Our Group Idea for solving the problem

 Recall products from the

markets
 Severe punishment
 Suspension of further
distribution or sale
 Deregistration of the products
 Simulation Exercise Conclusion

 Collaboration is critical for success

 (require) Good condition from the importers or company

or industry

 To check whether the products are quality control or not

 Illegal products must be banned

 Should be inspected by government officers

 Day 4

 Consumer Protection (Safety

Requirements) Scheme and
Weights and Measures Programme
 Accreditation Scheme (in
Singapore)
 Consumer Protection – Using the
Right Resources for the Right
Problem
 Using the Right Resources for the Right
Problem

 Rules that are put in place must be enforceable

 Resources must be found to enforce the rules
 Such resources need not come from one institution
 Effort needs to be put in to get private organizations to share
resources and responsibility
 Incentive could be offered for participation
 Appeal for support under the Corporate Social Responsibility
 Always educate the public on the issues involved through
various means
 Day 5

 The Legal Framework for Consumer Protection

 Part 1: Government & Industry-Centric Models

 Part 2: Consumer-Centric Method

The examples of unfair practices

As specified in the Second Schedule

of the Act
 1
Making
false
claims
about a
product
 Claiming that goods are from a
2 certain country when they are
not
3 Claiming
that used
goods
are new
 4
Lying about the
history or extent
to which
second-hand
goods have
been used
 5
Falsely
claiming that
goods are
available in
large
quantities to
attract buyers
when there is
actually only a
limited
number
 6
Telling the
customer
that the
product he
bought
needs
repairing
when there
is no such
need
 7
Claiming
that the
product
prices have
been
discounted
when they
have not
 8
Charging a
price higher
than what
was
estimated by
the seller,
unless both
parties had
agreed upon
the final price
earlier
 9
Claiming that
a product
comes with a
warranty
when it does
not
 10
Representing
that the seller
has the
authority to
close a deal
when he does
not
 11
Bullying a
consumer by
using
oppressive
terms in the
sale contract
 12
Using
undue
pressure
to get the
person to
buy items
 13
Giving
out false
vouchers
 14
Using a
scientific
report to sell
goods without
stating that it
is an
advertisement
 15
Falsely
claiming that
someone else
is about to
buy the
goods, to put
pressure on
the consumer
 16
Saying that
there are
facilities where
a consumer
can go to get
his items
repaired, when
there are none
 17
Falsely
claiming
That gifts
will be given
out with the
sale of a
product
 18
Stating
that a sale
is for a
fixed
period,
when it
goes on
for much
longer
 19
Giving false
reasons for
selling
goods
cheaply
 20
Using small
print
to hide
facts from
consumer

small print
 Conclusion

 Consumer Protection laws and

administration in Singapore
 Hypothetical cases and intensive
group discussions on some
typical topics
 the laws on Protection of
consumer rights and related
enforcement guidelines which
were expected to help create a
legal corridor for consumer
protection activities in Myanmar
 To acquire practical experiences
in consumer affairs
 Closing Ceremony

Giving presents taking group photo

to Instructors Giving certificates
to participants

Saying words
of thanks
 Acknowledgement

 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore

 Consumer Association of Singapore
 Department of Higher Education (Lower Myanmar)
 Rector Dr Tin Tun, Professor and Head Dr Daw Hla
Ngwe, University of Yangon

Thank You