Consumer act symposium

The consumer protection legislation that will come into effect in October is set to change the way business is done in SA.

Provisions of the Consumer Protection Act will make local consumers the most protected in the world.

To help business protect itself and understand its obligations, a symposium on the act will be held at the Southern Sun Grayston Hotel in Sandton from August 11 to 12.

Organised by information and training company Global Prospectus, the symposium will feature lawyers, reputation risk consultants and consumer experts.

Discussion will focus consumers' rights to safe, quality goods, to fair and honest marketing, the right to return goods, to full disclosure and to receive information simply and clearly.

Conference manager Michelle Mwayera said the act - which aims to promote a fair, accessible and sustainable marketplace for consumer products and services - had caused "a lot of speculation and fear in business circles and aroused considerable interest beyond our borders".

"The legislation is strongly biased towards the consumer and leaves businesses vulnerable and exposed on practically every front. With just over two months to go before this ground-breaking act comes into full operation, legal experts are gathering to dissect the act and brief delegates on the practical implications," Mwayera said.

The symposium will also include a half-day workshop on plain language. A second workshop will focus on managing reputational risk, looking at the impact that a conviction under the act would have on a company's reputation.