Introduction to the

Consumer Act
Module 3 Topic 1
Consumer Rights
1. The Right to Basic Needs
The right that guarantees survival, adequate food, clothing, shelter, health
care, education and sanitation. You may look forward to the availability of
basic and prime commodities to consumers at affordable prices and of good
quality.
The Right to Safety
●The right to be protected against the marketing of goods or the provision of
services that are hazardous to health and life. You may look forward to (1)
manufacturers of consumer products to undertake extensive safety and
performance testing before selling their products in the market, and (2) labels
which contain the proper information as regards the product, its use and how to
operate it, if the need arises, and also precautions or warning signs.
The Right to Information
●The right to be protected against fraudulent/dishonest or misleading
advertising/labelling/promotion and the right to be given the facts and
information needed to make an informed choice. You may look forward to
complete information about the product to be purchased, including its use,
ingredients/chemical contents, precautions, if any, limitations and expiry date.
The Right to Choose
●The right to choose products at competitive prices with an assurance of
satisfactory quality. You may look forward to a wide array of goods and services
which are offered in the market with diverse brands, sizes, shapes and colors
with differences in the price, quality and use.
The Right to Representation
●The right to express consumer interests in the making and execution of
government policies. You may look forward to legislators would propose laws
that would ensure that consumers have the chance to live a better life by
getting the best value for their hard-earned peso.
The Right to Redress
●The right to be compensated for misrepresentation, shoddy goods or
unsatisfactory services. You may look forward to manufacturers/storeowners
would replace defective goods pursuant to the provision “No Return, No
Exchange” provided in the DTI’s Implementing Rules and Regulations of
Republic Act 7349, otherwise known as the Consumer Act of the Philippines.
The Right to Consumer Education
●The right to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to be an informed
consumer.You may look forward to:
○The three sectors of society: business, government and consumer would embark on an information
campaign through tri-media on consumer related issues.
○A series of seminars, conferences, fora, training, and public hearings for the welfare of the
consumers.
○Consumer education being integrated in the school curriculum from elementary to secondary levels as
mandated by R.A. 7394 also known as the Consumer Act of the Philippines.
The Right to a Healthy Environment
●The right to live and work in an environment which is neither threatening nor
dangerous, and which permits a life of dignity and well-being. You may look
forward to
(1)the government exerting an iron hand regarding the alarming increase in the
degradation of the environment, especially forests, dying wildlife, depleted landfill space
and environmental contamination to prevent further damage; and

(2)constant monitoring of our seas, coral reefs, forest, and waste disposal practices of
factories to check if there is a violation of the laws on environmental protection.
The Consumer Act of the Philippines
Read:

https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1992/04/13/republic-act-no-7394-s-1992/
Articles 1 - 73
Consumer Act of the Philippines
-Law that protects the consumers
-Promulgated on July 15, 1992
-It is the policy of the State to protect the interests of the consumer, promote
his general welfare and to establish standards of conduct for business and
industry.
Objectives
A.protection against hazards to health and safety;
B.protection against deceptive, unfair and unconscionable sales acts and
practices;
C.provision of information and education to facilitate sound choice and the
proper exercise of rights by the consumer;
D.provision of adequate rights and means of redress; and
E.involvement of consumer representatives in the formulation of social and
economic policies.
Construction
Article 3.

The best interest of the consumer shall be considered in the interpretation and
implementation of the provisions, including its implementing rules and
regulations.
Implementing agencies
1.Department of Health with respect to food, drugs, cosmetics, devices and
substances;
2.Department of Agriculture with respect to products related to agriculture,
and;
3.Department of Trade and Industry with respect to other consumer products
not specified above.
Department of Trade and Industry
A.Consumer products and service warranties
B.Consumer product quality and safety
C.deceptive , unfair and unconscionable sales acts and practices
D.Price ag
E.Weights and measures (metrication)
F.Labeling and packaging
G.Advertising and sales promotion
H.Liability for products and services
I.Service and repair shops
Department of Agriculture
A.Agricultural Products
○Quality and safety
○Labelling and packaging
Department of Health
A.Food, drugs, cosmetics and devices, and hazardous substances
○Quality and safety
○Price tag
○Labelling and packaging
○Advertising and sales promotion
Securities and Exchange Commission

A. Credit facilities extended to consumers by financing companies

a)to develop and provide safety and quality standards for consumer products, including performance or
use-oriented standards, codes of practice and methods of tests;
b)to assist the consumer in evaluating the quality, including safety, performance and comparative utility of
consumer products;
c)to protect the public against unreasonable risks of injury associated with consumer products;
d)to undertake research on quality improvement of products and investigation into causes and prevention of
product related deaths, illness and injuries;
e)to assure the public of the consistency of standardized products.