Consumer Policy

Functions of Consumer Policy Directorate:

1. providing assistance to the Minister in the formulation, implementation and coordination of the State policy for consumer protection and its integration into the implementation of the other sectoral and horizontal policies;
2. providing assistance to the Minister in the performance of his obligations stemming from the membership of the Republic of Bulgaria in the EU in the field of consumer proteciton;
3. providing assistance to the Minister with regard to:
   a) drawing up a list of qualified entities entitled to bring representative actions in court for the protection of collective interests of consumers;
   b) recognition of representative consumer organizations at national level in accordance with the Law on Consumer protection;
   c) recognition of bodies for alternative resolution of consumer disputes within the meaning of the Law on Consumer protection;
   d) provision of financial support to representative consumer protection organisations in accordance with the legislation in force;
   e) acting as a contact point within the meaning of Article 5 of Directive (EU) 2020/1828 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2020 on representative actions for the protection of the collective interests of consumers and repealing Directive 2009/22/EC (OJ L 409/1 of 4 December 2020);
4. drafting of legal acts transposing into national legislation the requirements of the horizontal EU consumer legislation and giving opinions on legislative proposals related to consumer protection; elaboration of impact assessment of legislative proposals for consumer protection within the functional competence of the Directorate;
5. coordination and participation in the work of the Working Group “Consumer Protection” with the Coordination Council for the preparation of the Republic of Bulgaria for membership in the Euro and performing functions of the Secretariat of the Working Group of the Coordination Council;
6. elaboration, coordination and proposal for approval by the Council of European Affairs with the Council of Ministers of framework positions on the issues considered by the Council of the EU and its preparatory bodies, as well as in the decision-making process under Articles 290 and 291 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union;
7. participation in the elaboration of the national position of Bulgaria for the formal and informal meetings of the EU Council “Competitiveness” on issues within the competence of the Directorate;
8. participation with its representatives in meetings of the relevant Working groups, committees and other working formats of the Council of the EU and of the European Commission in connection with the adoption and the transposition of European Union consumer law;
9. organization and management of the activities of Working Group 21 “Consumer Protection” with the Council of European Affairs under Decree № 85 of the Council of Ministers of 2007 on coordination in European Union matters, namely:
   a) giving opinions on the compliance of draft legal acts with the EU consumer law;
   b) coordination and participation in the fulfillment of obligations of Bulgaria in the field of consumer protection stemming from the membership in the EU;
   c) analyses of the development of consumer law and policy at European level;
   d) elaboration and participation of Information notes, opinions, positions papers and instructions related to the consumer policy by coordinating them with the competent national authorities in relation to the participation of Bulgarian representatives in the work of the EU institutions;
   e) dialogue and interaction with non-governmental consumer organisations and organization of their participation in the process of the development, implementation and enforcement of EU law;
   f) informing economic operators for their obligations stemming from the EU consumer protection legislation.
10. maintain operational contacts at expert level on consumer protection matters, including through the representatives of the Ministry in the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Bulgaria to the EU, with the EU institutions, as well as with the Representation of the European Commission in Bulgaria and the national authorities of the EU Member States;
11. elaboration, coordination and proposal for approval by the Council of European Affairs with the Council of Ministers of draft official opinions on enquires of the European Commission regarding the correct implementation and enforcement of European Union law on consumer protection; drafting of Position papers and provision of information and documents in the framework of the information and pre-trial phase of infringement procedures initiated by the European Commission for non- compliance with European Union law within the competence of the Directorate;
12. notification of national regulations transposing requirements of the European Union directives for consumer protection into the electronic system of the European Commission for notification of national implementing measures;
13. elaboration and sending to the European Commission of notifications of national measures for the implementation of EU Regulations for consumer protection;
14. elaboration and summaries of studies and analyses of European Union law and the practices of the other Member States of the EU in the field of horizontal consumer protection legislation;
15. performing the functions of Secretariat of the National Council for Consumer Protection, coordinating its activities;
16. interaction with the Commission for Consumer Protection and with the other administrative bodies relevant to consumer protection;
17. participation in the working bodies for consumer protection of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), namely in the work of the Consumer Policy Committee (CCP) and of Working Group on Consumer Goods Safety (WPCPS); performing of tasks related to the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria to the OECD on matters within the competence of the Directorate;
18. participation in the meetings of the Working Group on Consumer Protection of the United Nations Commission on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) for the implementation of the United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection; drafting of opinions and instructions on the participation of the Republic of Bulgaria in other international organisations (UNCTAD and UNCITRAL) and cooperation with the administrative authorities of other countries on matters falling within the Directorate’s remit;
19. participation in the development of the Budget forecasts and of drafting the budget of the Ministry, as well as in the implementation of the relevant program the Program budget of the Ministry with regard its functional competence.