The Polish competition authority, UOKiK, has launched a new project aimed at supporting Armenia in developing its consumer protection and competition system. This initiative is part of the Polish Aid program funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland.

The project commenced with a 10-day study visit from Armenian experts to Poland, which took place from September 14 to 23. During this visit, representatives from the Armenian Commission on Competition and Consumer Protection engaged in job shadowing at UOKiK's headquarters and regional offices in Poznań and Gdańsk.

The focus of the collaboration is to provide Armenian experts with practical knowledge regarding the enforcement of consumer protection laws, including tackling unfair practices in the digital market. Discussions included the use of digital tools and electronic evidence in investigations, as well as issues related to dark patterns in e-commerce and alternative investment markets.

Additionally, the Armenian experts learned about collective consumer interest violations and abusive clauses in ticket sales systems. Their visit also included meetings with the Provincial Inspectorates of Trade Inspection, where they explored product safety activities and the role of the Customs and Tax Service in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in Poland.

In Warsaw, the Armenian experts participated in training sessions at UOKiK's headquarters, which covered topics such as cooperation with consumer NGOs, market monitoring, complaint analysis, product compliance, the implementation of the Omnibus Directive, price labeling, and UOKiK's communication with consumers.

The next phase of the Polish-Armenian cooperation will involve training workshops in Yerevan scheduled for October.