Consumer Protection: Does the Law Keep Pace with Market Changes?

Consumer Protection Law No. 39 of 2014 is among the important laws in the State of Kuwait, as it established a framework for consumer protection and regulated the relationship between consumers and merchants, while specifying a number of rights related to goods and services, including replacement, returns, and complaints. However, years after its enactment, the nature of the market has changed significantly, with e-commerce and purchases via websites and social media accounts becoming an integral part of consumers’ lives. This raises the question: Does the law require further development to keep pace with these changes?

One of the most prominent challenges facing consumers today is the difficulty of knowing their rights and the procedures to follow when problems arise, as well as dealing with certain online stores and social media accounts whose owners may be hard to reach in the event of a dispute. Additionally, advertisements and commercial offers on social media require continuous oversight to ensure that prices, specifications, and offer terms are clear and not misleading. Therefore, developing consumer protection does not mean restricting merchants, but rather achieving a balance between both parties. It is important to simplify complaint procedures, strengthen oversight of e-commerce, facilitate the verification of licensed stores, and increase awareness of consumer rights.

In the end, while the existence of the law is an important step, what matters most is that it be clear, easy to implement, and responsive. Consumers want nothing more than to know their rights and obtain them easily, while merchants, in turn, need clear rules that protect them and define their responsibilities.

College of Commercial Studies / Law Major, Public Authority for Applied Education and Training