The Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency (GCCA) has published its consumer rights protection statistics covering the first six months of the current year.

During the reporting period, the GCCA received a total of 1276 applications and 4025 calls related to consumer rights protection-representing a 112% increase in the number of applications submitted compared to the corresponding period of the preceding year. During the reporting period, the Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency (GCCA) identified 162 violations of consumer group rights in 417 cases. Due to non-compliance with obligations imposed by the GCCA, 75 traders were fined in 198 cases, with total penalties amounting to 202 281 GEL.

For consumer protection, 114 commitment agreements were signed in 132 cases, where traders committed to modifying their internal business policies and restoring the rights of affected consumers who suffered due to unfair business practices.

According to the reporting period, 70% of submitted applications concerned online trading, while 30% related to in-person purchases. From a regional perspective, Tbilisi accounted for the largest share of applications 82%, followed by Adjara 5%, Imereti 4%, Kvemo Kartli 2%, Kakheti 2%, Samegrelo Zemo-Svaneti 1%, etc.

As regards the subject matter of applications submitted during the first 6 months of the current year, 532 concerned requests for reimbursement, 293 related to the repair or replacement of defective goods, 291 pertained to the restoration of rights in cases of deficient service provision, 60 concerned the delivery of goods within the prescribed timeframe, and the rest is 100. By sector, wholesale and retail trade accounted for the largest share at 70%, followed by transport and storage 11%, arts, entertainment and recreation 3%, and other activities 16%.