The Institute of Public Administration (IPA) has submitted a draft proposal to the Royal Court to establish an independent agency to provide protection to consumers in the country.
The IPA was founded in 1961 as an autonomous government agency tasked with increasing the efficiency of public employees and departments through education, research and consultative work.
The proposal submitted to the Royal Court by the IPA’s higher committee for administrative organization, had put forward two options, either the establishment of an independent body as a separate entity, or a unit under the Ministry of Commerce and Ministry, with administrative and organizational independence.
Thamer Al-Mutairi, secretary-general of the committee, said a study was conducted and it found that an independent body was needed to provide protection to consumers in the Kingdom.
Al-Mutairi said the proposed body would take complete responsibility for drawing up policies and “other regulatory, supervisory and executive functions.”
The proposal comes in the wake of many calls on the government to set up such an agency.
With regard to civil society organizations active in this field, Al-Mutairi said the committee was discussing this issue and looking at working out norms and standards.
In March, Arab News reported on a draft proposal for a new consumer protection agency to take over the functioning of various bodies, including the general administration of cooperatives at the Ministry of Social Affairs, and the Council of Society Cooperatives from an agency under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The draft also proposed transferring the functions of the Social Charity Fund to the proposed body.
The draft stated that if a Ministry of Supply and Consumer Protection was endorsed and approved, the Saudi Standards, Quality and Metrology Organization and the General Organization for Grain Silos & Flour Mills would follow the prospective ministry. The name of this body would later change to the General Organization for Food Security.
Last December, the Shoura Council's economic affairs and energy committee called on the Commerce Ministry to step up efforts to protect consumers.
Consumer protection body recommended
