This Wednesday, March 15, International Consumer Rights Day, Renan Hedouville, the Protector of the Citizen (OPC), takes the opportunity to attract the attention of public authorities and the public by denouncing : products and services of poor quality; the counterfeiting of certain products including drugs and the problem of quality and calibration in the various gas stations.

In addition, the Office deplores the slow and profound weaknesses of supervisory bodies that fail to take on their responsibilities to effectively guarantee the rights of consumers.

He recalls that, as a State party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), following its ratification by the Haitian Parliaments on 31 January 2012, Haiti has always been committed to defining and implementing measures to enable all citizens to fully enjoy their social rights including the right to health, food etc...

The Office of Citizen Protection (OPC) recommends :

• The strengthening of the Quality Control and Consumer Protection Directorate of the Haitian Bureau of Standardization and Metrology within the Ministry of Commerce and the revitalization of the hygiene service of the Ministry of Public Health within the framework of the inspection and systematic control of the Haitian market.

• Legislative measures to ensure better consumer protection while maintaining a harmonious balance between buyers and sellers.

• Finally, the OPC recommends that the judicial authorities step up their efforts to ensure that the perpetrators of these infringements to activities related to counterfeiting, the illegal sale of spoiled medicines is sought and punished in accordance with the Law.

HL/ HaitiLibre