In the reporting period, the Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency (GCCA) received a total of 2013 applications and 6250 calls concerning consumer rights protection. The number of applications increased by 102% compared with the same period of the previous year.

Through its decisions, the GCCA established 248 violations of consumer group rights in 563 cases. For failure to comply with obligations imposed by the Agency, 136 traders were fined in 307 cases, with total fines amounting to GEL 303,463. To protect consumers, 147 commitment agreements were concluded in 168 cases, under which traders undertook to revise their internal business policies and to restore the rights of consumers who had been harmed by unfair commercial practices.

Of the applications submitted in the reporting period, 68% related to online trade and 32% to purchases made in person. By region, Tbilisi accounted for the largest share of applications (81%), followed by Adjara (6%), Imereti (3%), Kvemo Kartli (2%), Kakheti (2%), Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti (2%) and other regions.

By subject matter, 834 applications concerned requests for reimbursement, 436 the repair or replacement of defective goods, and 498 the restoration of rights in cases of deficient services; the remaining 245 related to other matters. By sector, wholesale and retail trade accounted for 67% of applications, followed by transport and storage (11%), arts, entertainment and recreation (3%) and other activities (19%).