Currently, the Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan is proposing new amendments to the Law "On Consumer Protection". Kanat Zhenisbekuly, Head of the Department for Consumer Protection of the East Kazakhstan region, told about how issues of consumer protection will be resolved with the introduction of new tools. - Tell us, please, what amendments to the Law are we talking about? - Currently, there is an advisory document on the portal of Open NPAs, which proposes to create a legislative basis for the functioning of the National Association of Public Associations for the Protection of Consumer Rights and the institution of the Ombudsman for Consumer Protection. - What are these tools needed for and what are they aimed at? - In 2019, the Ministry of Trade and Integration conducted a survey that showed that more than 2 million consumers have ever faced a violation of their rights. Therefore, in the current realities, such a measure as the creation of a Single organization for the protection of consumer rights and the institution of an Ombudsman would be very relevant. Currently, consumer protection mechanisms are quite effective. However, it is necessary to further improve them by analogy with the developed countries of the world. The creation of such an organization will be a big step in the development of consumer protection policy. For example, any changes to the law concerning the activities of entrepreneurs are considered in the NCE "Atameken". Their rights are fully protected. And the activity and profit of an entrepreneur directly depends on the consumer. Therefore, in order to strengthen the sphere of consumer protection in our country, it is necessary to introduce a new tool, which will act as a Single organization for consumer Protection. This is intended to be a great support for the activities of public associations that help all consumers in resolving conflicting situations with service providers. And for the state, in turn, the above-mentioned organization will become an important strategic partner. This practice has already been successfully applied in many countries. A single organization for the protection of consumer rights will become a kind of bridge between the state, public associations and consumers. You see, one of the problems that exists now is the low legal literacy of the population. We all live in the legal field. The consumer, as well as the entrepreneur, has rights that are established by Law. - What is the opinion of public associations on the proposal to create a single association? - In East Kazakhstan, Atyrau, Aktobe regions and Shymkent almost all public associations supported the creation of a single organization for the protection of consumer rights, public associations of other regions discuss this issue at working meetings with the authorized body for consumer protection. In addition, it is supposed to be formed by transforming existing associations organized on the basis of the norms of the Civil Code and the Law on Public Associations. membership in a Single organization is planned to be on a voluntary basis. That is, no one will force public associations to join this organization. At the same time, such a collective body is able to help – to expand the powers of public associations so that they, in turn, can fully defend the rights of consumers. - And what can you say about the idea of creating an ombudsman institution? - The creation of the Ombudsman institution will be able to raise the problem of consumer protection to the level of the Head of State. We have successful cases in Kazakhstan that have shown their effectiveness – this is the Commissioner for Human Rights, for the Rights of Entrepreneurs and in other areas. The Consumer Rights Ombudsman will be a kind of voice of the people and public associations, which will be independent and will be able to directly bring emerging issues to the Head of State.