Press Release – ACR AGM 2022 highlights the need to address Consumer Challenges in a rapidly changing society at all levels large

The ACR (Malta) AGM 2022 was held virtually on 28 February 2022. In her opening address ACR President Pauline Azzopardi highlighted the forward-looking vision of ACR, to address the challenges of a fast changing society – a vision empowering Maltese consumers with information on their rights and responsibilities in identifying bait advertising, false claims, misleading offers or aggressive selling among others and providing them with skills to be able to take action.  Regrettably to the contrary, a number of products that are sold loose, by weight or not pre-packed offer limited, minimal or no information.

ACR is also advocating for action to combat disinformation to be given high priority.  More and continuing efforts are needed to coordinate the fight against disinformation. The importance of a media literacy plan, which is the responsibility of the Member States is an essential precondition for our democracies so that everyone, particularly our youngest citizens, are able to distinguish between true and false information.

Advertising for modern, responsible consumption is another area of concern. In the face of the digital transition, we realise that advertising is a driver for economic activities and jobs and is more important now than ever before. However, the need for greater respect for consumers and the challenges of the green transition and the fight against climate change require a broader debate to encourage society to reduce their environmental impact, including also the business sector. This can be achieved by reducing the energy consumption of digital advertising screens and making them more recyclable.

Another important topic that is being addressed by ACR is Promoting Sustainable Consumption in Malta to Help Reduce Carbon Emissions and Mitigate Climate Change. Traditionally, consumer associations worldwide focused on lobbying for better protection of consumer rights.  However, increasing environmental and climate problems have shown that consumers must not only enjoy rights but also uphold certain responsibilities.  The climate emergency clearly indicates that consumption must also be sustainable. In view of the above context, in conjunction with lobbying for consumer rights, ACR Malta is taking on sustainable consumption as one of its primary objectives.

Also being addressed are issues concerning sustainable pensions for today’s young generation; protection of vulnerable groups and the elderly from exclusion due to new and complex digital technology developments among others. ‘From this pandemic, we have learnt how important digital transformation is with its benefits and challenges of the digital future and this is the way forward for all’ the President concluded.

The approved ACR Executive Committee members for 2022 are as follows:

• President – Pauline Azzopardi
• Vice President – Cynthia Busuttil
• Hon General Secretary – Grace Attard
• Hon Treasurer  – Catherine Polidano
• Members – Barbara Buttigieg and Sarah Scerri.

As in previous years, the Association dealt with a number of queries and complaints on various products and services. ACR builds on empowerment for consumers to deal with their various complaints such as white goods, furniture, technology devices, queries re contract information of bank services, better safety measures in products and services, online shopping information, guarantees, mobile telephony, faulty tablets, late deliveries, gift vouchers, price indication, shopping during sales, among others.

The ACR programme for 2022 will focus on monitoring developments of previous 2020 and 2021 resolutions and the current and future priorities of the EU Commission for Consumer Rights identified in the ACR Resolutions 2022

The following Resolutions for 2022 were approved during the AGM:

• Empowering the Maltese consumers with information on their rights and responsibilities
• National Strategy to Promote Financial Literacy 
• Advertising for Modern and Responsible Consumption
• Volunteers – Citizens Building the Future of Europe
• Strengthening the Code of Practice on Disinformation
• Promoting Sustainable Consumption in Malta to help reduce Carbon Emissions and Mitigate Climate Change
• Addressing the Challenges of the Digital Future

In her concluding remarks, the ACR President thanked the hard-working Executive Committee members for their teamwork and for giving up their time voluntarily without which all this would not have been possible. She urged all members and the general public  to support the work of ACR and to come forward with their wealth of ideas and talents as together we are determined to move forward in empowering the Maltese consumer.

ACR is committed to safeguard the interests of consumers in Malta in all aspects. Through its links, ACR is in a position to ensure consumers have the necessary information and skills when dealing with National, European and International developments of consumer affairs.

For more information on the work of ACR Malta see the Annual Report for 2021, that was presented and adopted during the AGM 2022 and the Annual Facebook Report 2021 on the ACR (Malta) Facebook page

For more information on ACR join us on our Facebook page ACR (Malta) or contact us on email: associationforconsumerrights@gmail.com

Grace Attard,

General Secretary,

For ACR President