On 10 October 2024, the Ministry of National Economy published a draft Government Decree on the National Trade and Consumer Protection Authority and another one on the amendments to the Government Decrees related to the establishment of the National Trade and Consumer Protection Authority.
The Ministry invited comments on these documents through a public consultation until 18 October 2024. The proposed legislation aims to establish, from 1 January 2025, the National Trade and Consumer Protection Authority, a central budgetary body operating as a central office under the authority of the Minister for Trade. The adopted Government Decrees were published in the Hungarian Gazette on 14 November 2024 and will enter into force on 1 January 2025.
The tasks of the National Trade and Consumer Protection Authority will include among others to contribute to the development and implementation of trade and consumer protection policy, to give opinions on draft legislation affecting its areas of responsibility, to propose to the Minister, where necessary, amendments to the legislation affecting his or her area of responsibility, and to operate a centralised system for the supply of samples.
Under the Government Decree on the National Trade and Consumer Protection Authority, in the framework of the professional management activities of the National Trade and Consumer Protection Authority, it (a) organises meetings and training courses, and runs professional working groups, (b) issues mandatory professional procedures, guidelines, control and sampling plans in the course of inspections and professional activities of the government offices, (c) designates laboratories for the examination of samples taken; and (d) supervises the implementation of recommendations made in internal controls, audits and specialised inspections which it carries out.
In addition, the National Trade and Consumer Protection Authority could oblige the government office to (a) participate in external audits carried out by international bodies, (b) collect, maintain records and provide data for the establishment and maintenance of national databases; and (c) to report and account for the tasks performed.
By Lidia Suveges, Attorney at law, KCG Partners Law Firm
