"Consumer Protection Law Assurance and Security for Your Rights"

The Consumer Protection Agency was established under Law No. 67 of 2006 with the aim of enforcing the provisions of the Consumer Protection Law and safeguarding public interests. Subsequent amendments were made to the text of the old law until it was repealed, and a new law, No. 181 of 2018, was issued with new provisions not present in the old law. The Egyptian Constitution of 2014 emphasized the importance of the role of the Consumer Protection Agency in safeguarding economic activities in the state.

The Consumer Protection Agency exerts significant efforts to regulate markets and ensure safety in all commercial transactions by organizing relationships between merchants or suppliers and consumers. In this context, the Consumer Protection Law was issued, and the Consumer Protection Agency was established in Egypt. The agency plays a crucial role in implementing the law, ensuring complete protection for consumers, and obliging every merchant to comply with the provisions of this law.

The Consumer Protection Law includes numerous mandatory provisions for merchants, aiming to achieve the necessary protection for consumers. Among the most important provisions are:

(1) The consumer has the right to find on the goods or product the data required by Egyptian standard specifications in a clear and readable format.

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(2) Upon the consumer's request, they have the right to receive an invoice confirming the transaction or agreement on the product without incurring any additional charges. The invoice should include the transaction or agreement date, product price, specifications, nature, type, and quantity.

(3) In accordance with Egyptian standard specifications, the consumer has the right to replace the product with a new one at no cost in case of defects or the recurrence of such defects more than twice consecutively during the first year or the warranty period, whichever is less. The consumer must provide proof of the number of repair instances through maintenance receipts or certification of the warranty.

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(4) Upon the supplier's knowledge of a defective product, they must declare its discontinuation or cease dealing with it. The supplier should warn consumers against using the product and, upon the consumer's request, commit to replacing the product, repairing the defect, or refunding the item's value without any additional cost. The supplier must inform the Consumer Protection Agency of the defect and potential damages within seven days of discovery, especially if the defect poses risks to the consumer's health and safety.

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(5) The supplier guarantees durable goods against manufacturing defects for a minimum of two years from the date of the consumer receiving the item, without prejudicing any legal warranties, conditions, or agreements beneficial to the consumer.

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(6) The supplier is obligated to provide service, maintenance, and repair centers, as well as original or authorized spare parts for imported or locally produced goods. The supplier must notify the Consumer Protection Agency of their approved service and maintenance centers, any new centers, and any changes within one month of the modification.

(7) Service and maintenance centers are obliged to inform the consumer about the necessary maintenance and repair work for the product, including the duration and cost of the repair. They must obtain the explicit consent of the consumer before proceeding with these activities. Additionally, they are required to issue an invoice to the consumer detailing the maintenance work performed and the parts replaced in the service center.

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(8) The supplier must declare the inclusive price of the goods they offer to consumers. This declaration should be clearly written on the goods themselves or their packaging, or by affixing a clear price label on the goods or their packaging, depending on the nature of the goods.

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(9) Suppliers are prohibited from visiting residential units to display or sell products without explicit prior consent from the consumer.

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(10) Advertising competitions is not allowed by any means without notifying the Consumer Protection Agency by the supplier or their representative at least three days before the announcement. The supplier must mention the notification number and date to the Consumer Protection Agency when announcing the competition results. Additionally, the supplier must provide the names and details of the winners within a maximum of fifteen days from the date of announcing the competition results.

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(11) Sellers of used goods are obligated to provide sufficient information about the condition, defects, and repair needs of the product before its use. This information should not create a false or misleading impression for the consumer or lead to confusion or error.

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Article 52 of Law No. 181 of 2018 regarding Consumer Protection outlines the role of the Consumer Protection Agency in case of disputes between the supplier and the consumer or advertiser regarding the application of the law. It states:

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1. If the supplier does not repair the goods within thirty days for cars and twenty-one days for other goods, either due to an inability to repair or the unavailability of spare parts, they must commit to replacing the goods with a new one of the same type and specifications or refund its value.

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2. The consumer has the right to replace the goods or return them with a cash refund, without stating any reasons and without bearing any expenses, within fourteen days of receiving them, without prejudice to any legal warranties, conditions, or agreements beneficial to the consumer.

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3. The consumer has the right, within thirty days of receiving the goods, to replace or return them with a cash refund if they are defective or not in conformity with the specifications or the purpose for which they were contracted.

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4. The Consumer Protection Agency has the right to stop the competition and any advertisements about it if it finds them not serious, deceptive, discriminatory, offensive, or violating public order and morals. Non-compliance with these decisions results in penalties, including fines ranging from fifty thousand to one million Egyptian pounds, without prejudice to any stricter penalties in other laws.

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