A conference call on the protection of consumers' rights was held in Atameken under the chairmanship of Rustam Zhursunov, Vice-Chairman of the NCE Board.

As noted in "Atameken", the facts of unfair business continue to take place. Unfortunately, such activities often lead to tragic consequences. For example, the mass poisoning of ice cream in Shymkent is a vivid example of what outcome can occur if the sanitary and epidemiological requirements are not adhered to.

One of the proposed measures is the need to strengthen public control through the creation of an institutional system for the protection of consumer rights, which should become an opponent for the NCE and stand guard over the interests of consumers. It should be a large and respectable organization that will become a partner for the Government and business and will be able to give comprehensive and qualitative conclusions on compliance with consumer protection legislation

"About 60 societies function in Kazakhstan with low level of consolidation in this direction. “Atameken” initiated this meeting to understand how to make the civil institution of the society for the protection of consumers' rights really qualitative and effective, in order to attract qualified experts and professionals. We are ready for an exchange of views. It is necessary to find the start points and directions. In such a case, investment is needed. At the initial stage, some state investments and immersions must be made. And, on the other hand, there must be feedback from the society. This meeting will be the first point to begin the dialogue," - Rustam Zhursunov stressed

Rustam Akhmetov, Ag. Chairman of the Committee for Regulation of Natural Monopolies, Protection of Competition and Consumer Rights of the RK, listed the current problems in the creation of such institutions.

"It is significant that this issue is raised precisely by the business community. We agree that there is a problem; public institutions need to be developed, we badly need a consolidation. This is the system that contains key problems. First, the authorized body is not endowed with supervisory and regulatory functions. Although the consumer contacts and waits for a specific reaction. Here we confine ourselves to explaining rights and re-dispatch to the target government agency," - Rustam Akhmetov said.

The following problem arises: not all state agencies know, that consumer rights also falls within their jurisdiction.

"And the last problem is the current system of associations. 120 associations are registered, of which 60 actually function. Half of them do not work mainly because of the lack of material and finance sources, equipment and experts," - Akhmetov added.

According to the Committee, to the outcome of 2017, more than 30 thousand appeals and complaints from consumers were received. Of these, 74% are for financial services, most are related to the debts restructuring, provision of incomplete information on loans, hidden interest-bearing loans. Further, 10% falls on the housing and public utilities sector - the integrity of the cooperative of apartment owners, the amount of voluntary contributions, the lack of registration of condominiums. The last 9% are retail trade, concerns the quality of goods, expiry date, guarantees, and returns of goods.

"I consider it extremely important to develop consumer education. First of all, consumers just do not know their rights. Secondly, it is necessary to monitor the work of the courts so that they comply with the legal and regulatory framework. Because up to date the practice of holding does not work," - the President of the Republican public association "National Consumer League" Svetlana Romanovskaya voiced her opinion.​​​​​​​

Kabyken Zakaryanov, Chairman of the board of NGO "Society for the Protection of Consumer Rights "Adilet", also expressed concern about the situation, but said that there is no need to create a separate structure, but it is necessary to strengthen the legal side: to tighten the law on consumer rights, increase the responsibility of service providers and entrepreneurs in general. In his opinion, if to create a public council, this should be done at the Governmental level, as well as to decide the financing issues.

The president of the Adal Public Association for Consumer Rights Protection, Artik Seitkaliyeva, similarly supported her colleague, noting that there was no need to create a separate structure.

"Nobody will allow us, public associations, to exercise control. The question should not be posed in the form of public control, but in the form of a dialogue between the two sides. This public control is "not in the spirit of the times and the law", - Sergey Fedoseyev, Chairman of the NGO "Center for Protection of Human and Consumer Rights "ATAKENT"​​​​​​​

At the end of the meeting it was decided to forward all the proposals and ideas to Atameken for further consideration with the authorized body. If necessary, the issues will be submitted for public discussion and consideration of the Government.