Consumer Policy for Trinidad and Tobago

PRINCIPLES AND PRIORITIES OF CONSUMER POLICY:

Principles

Sufficient information should be made available to the consumer of goods and services to enable him/her to assess their basic features such as the nature, quality, quantity, price, performance and safe use;
On the basis of such information the consumer should be able to make a rational choice between competing products and services and use them safely and to his/her satisfaction.

Priorities

To ensure that there are proper rules for the labelling of products which will provide for clear, legible and unambiguous labelling requirements;
To ensure that the labelling requrements for foodstuffs include the following: nature, composition, weight or volume, the food value, the date of manufacture, country of origin, nutritional information, date marking (expiry dates) and any other useful information;
To ensure that for products other than foodstuffs and services, the following information will be made available to consumers;

rules stating clearly the principles governing claims on layaway plans balance parcels), repayments, payments to consumers in the event of mishaps experienced by the business, e.g. lootings, theft, receivership, fires;
principles governing claims on small electrical appliances with no warranty eg. compressors;
rules on goods sold after parts and substitutes have become obsolete; and
rules on goods sold as seconds, used and reconditioned;

To inform consumers, in simple terms, of measures taken at the national levels which may directly or indirectly affect their interests;
To implement a procedure for the accessing of information both at the local and international level.