Uznews.net – Uzbekistan has adopted a development blueprint for the Federation of Consumer Rights Societies for 2010-2014, but will this really help local consumers?

The local media said that the blueprint would help protect consumer rights and improve the population’s knowledge of the law.

The federation said it and its regional branches had received over 35,600 complaints in the past six years, of which 34% were related to the retailing sphere and 12% were about the quality of utilities supplies. Compensations recovered on these cases exceeded 2 billion sums ($1m), including about 800 million sums was paid to consumers.

In addition, the federation conducted about 100,000 inspections in various sectors to investigate complaints. It said that 97% of cases had been solved in favour of consumers.

Despite the establishment of 14 regional and over 200 district and town branches and over 10,000 officers all over the country (in neighbourhoods, universities and so on), ordinary consumers cannot expect real assistance from this organisation.

Consumers say that the organisation which has over 300,000 members cannot protect their rights fully.