The regional director for Employment, Vocational Training and Consumer Defence assured today that the Regional Government is resolutely committed to providing Azoreans with information about their consumer rights and in the establishment of a conciliatory service which, it is expected, will evolve into a consumer rights court.
Rui Bettencourt, speaking on behalf of the President of the Regional Government at the public presentation of “Projecto de Código do Consumidor”, which took place in Ponta Delgada and is a part of the commemorations of the 20 years of existence of the Associação dos Consumidores da Região Açores (ACRA). He emphasised that the Regional Government regards consumer rights as a matter of paramount importance and that it is seeking the establishment of a Regional Directorate dedicated to these questions.
The Regional Director also said that the Government believes that we are entering a new era of consumer rights in the Azores. The presentation, in Ponta Delgada, of “Projecto Código de Consumidor” is an important step in that direction.
With regard to other measures that the Government is seeking to implement, such as providing information to consumers and arranging for the conciliation and arbitration of consumer disputes, Rui Bettencourt said these are important steps that ought to be carried out rapidly given that in market of 250 thousand consumers it is vital to provide answers to the emerging problems.
The Regional Director for Employment, Vocational Training and Consumer Defence also highlighted the importance of the work undertaken in the Region by ACRA and assured the government’s availability to cooperate with that association.