Tanzania inks benchmarks for Fair Competition to meet online-trade demand
DAR ES SALAAM: THE Fair Competition Commission (FCC), in collaboration with key stakeholders, has initiated the process of publishing national benchmarks in line with the amended Competition Act as part of its efforts to strengthen regulation of the country’s fast-growing online trade.
The initiative goes hand in hand with the launch of a comprehensive consumer protection assessment in the e-commerce sector, a study designed to examine business practices, identify potential risks and seal regulatory gaps in online transactions as digital trade gains momentum across the country.
Speaking on Tuesday during the commemoration of World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD), FCC Acting Director General Ms Khadija Ngasongwa said the move seeks to reinforce consumer safeguards while creating a fair and predictable operating environment for online service providers and investors.
“With online platforms increasingly becoming more useful, the development of clear standards and stronger consumer safeguards is critical to ensuring transparency, accountability and healthy competition,” she said.
According to the Commission, the study will generate critical data to guide policy and regulatory decisions in response to the rapid expansion of online business platforms and services.
The WCRD is observed annually on March 15 to promote awareness of consumers’ rights and responsibilities in the marketplace and to strengthen accountability among producers and service providers for the welfare of citizens.
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This year’s celebrations are guided by the theme ‘Safe Products, Confident Consumer’, underscoring the importance of ensuring that goods and services placed on the market meet nationally or internationally accepted safety and quality standards.
Ms Ngasongwa added that this theme encourages greater adherence to quality standards by empowering consumers to prioritise product safety and value for money, a factor that contributes to sustainable economic growth through informed purchasing decisions.
She stressed that international organisations, including United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and Consumers International in collaboration with the FCC have continued to take measures to ensure consumers access safe products and services that meet expected standards.
“Consumers International has placed strong emphasis on product safety in e-commerce, a market that is increasingly exposed to risks such as lack of transparency, weak accountability mechanisms and products that fail to meet required quality standards,” she noted.
She called on manufacturers and traders across the country to ensure that goods produced and distributed comply with established safety and quality standards in accordance with the law.
This year’s commemorations will culminate at the end of this month, with the Minister for Industry and Trade, Judith Kapinga, expected to officiate at the closing ceremony.
