“Our money-our rights”: Armenian consumer market has little to do with motto

PanARMENIAN.Net - Despite this fact, the results of consumer market monitoring, conducted by the association, leave much to be desired: Armenian consumers still happen to buy expired products or use low quality services, while product manufacturers can't even be recognized. Translated product markings, glued on original ones where actual expiry date is indicated, impede consumers from determining the true expiry and conservation date. Consumers are dissatisfied, while importers are happy about managing to sell expired production. For instance, 40% of bread, manufactured in Armenia is transported under unsanitary conditions, according to data provided by the head of the department for monitoring and marketing research of Armenian National Association of Consumers Frunz Aytyan.

To improve the situation in bread production sphere, the association addressed RA government with an offer to toughen the process of licensing for production and sale of bread and baked goods, as well as review sanitary norms and regulations. Licensing procedure was toughened, yet no progress was observed in the sphere in question.

According to association chairman Melita Hakobyan, the main problem in customer rights sphere is population's low awareness level. Yet, as the chairman reported, Armenian Ministry of Education and Science never published the manual, prepared by the association, citing the fact that educational program is subject to permanent changes and the offer of the association will be taken into consideration. Association is cooperating with the Central Bank of Armenia, the latter is also committed to raise the awareness in the banking and financial sector.

The government intends to initiate a compensation package for the increased utility prices by April 1. The devaluation of the dram would increase the cost of imported goods, filled the consumer market. The increase in prices is demonstrated by the official statistics, as well: in January-February 8.2% growth in consumer prices compared to the same period of 2009 was recorded in Armenia. Within the first two months of 2010, compared with December last year, this indicator grew 2%.