Judit Varga – Photo: BZT / Nóra Halász

Justice minister: Government prioritising consumer protection

Protecting and enforcing the rights of Hungarians, families and consumers is the government's top priority, Judit Varga, the justice minister, told a conference on Tuesday.

Technological developments, digitalisation, and changes in the market are challenging factors in consumer protection, Varga told a press conference on the government’s consumer protection policy. Guarantees are needed for protecting the rights of Hungarian consumers, she added.

Consumer protection in the digital domain, child protection, access to consumer protection, and uniform legal practice will be the focus of future policymaking in the area, the minister said.

The ministry has set up a “digital freedom committee” with a view to promoting online transparency, the right to a fair trial, and the tenets of competition law. The guiding principle is whatever is prohibited offline should also be banned online, she said.

Also the child’s right to adequate physical, mental and moral development is a key part of consumer protection, in accordance with the Fundamental Law, Varga added.

Complaints procedures are also being made friendlier to the consumer, she said.

The government is setting up a consumer protection council comprising the relevant government and state players with a view to establishing uniform legal practice, the minister said.

Vulnerable consumer groups will also get support and dangerous products on the market will be filtered out, Varga said.

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