CAC Plans Week-Long Activities to Observe World Consumer Rights Day

The Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) has announced a comprehensive week of activities to mark World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) 2026, reinforcing its commitment to consumer protection, product safety and responsible purchasing.

World Consumer Rights Day, observed annually on March 15, brings together more than 150 countries and over 200 consumer advocacy groups worldwide to highlight the importance of protecting consumer rights and empowering individuals to make informed decisions in the marketplace.

This year’s global observance, to he held under the theme ‘Safe Products, Confident Consumers’, will feature a mix of youth engagement initiatives, media outreach, marketplace monitoring and public awareness activities designed to promote vigilance and responsible consumption.

During a JIS ‘Think Tank’ session on Wednesday (March 4), Chief Executive Officer of the Consumer Affairs Commission, Dolsie Allen, said Jamaica’s participation goes beyond symbolic observance.

“In Jamaica, we join with the rest of the world to raise understanding and awareness that insufficient product safety undermines our human rights to life, health and safety,” Mrs. Allen said.

Providing historical context, she noted that the modern consumer protection movement dates back to 1962, when the then United States President addressed Congress on the Government’s responsibility to protect consumers.

“This was the very first time there was acknowledgement that consumer rights are fundamental to the existence of any civilised society,” she explained.

She further emphasised that product safety remains a pressing global issue, particularly in an era of increased imports and online shopping.

“Most of the products we consume in Jamaica are imported, and many persons are shopping online. That means consumers are at higher risk. We must, therefore, work collaboratively as government, consumer groups and businesses, to ensure that products on our market are safe,” Mrs. Allen said.

The CEO further pointed to global data highlighting the urgency of the issue, noting that “over 87 per cent of recalled or banned goods are still available for purchase on the market. When safety systems fall short, consumers bear the burden through injury, financial loss, environmental harm and, sadly, even loss of life”.

Against this background, she mentioned that the Commission will use the observance as a call to action, not merely a celebration.

“It is a call to action. It is not just another World Consumer Rights Day that we are observing. We want participation, and we want action,” she expressed.

The week’s activities will begin on Wednesday, March 11, with a live outside broadcast at the Commission’s Head Office, 17-19 Connolley Avenue, Kingston 4.

Another key feature throughout the week will be the Commission’s Instagram Media Challenge for tertiary students, titled ‘Check It Before You Buy It!’. Participants will submit creative entries in the form of poems, skits or songs, encouraging consumers to examine products carefully before purchase.

Mrs. Allen told JIS News that “our youth will take centre stage this year, as we want our young people to become educated consumers from now”.

“We do not want to wait until they become adults. We are challenging them to come up with creative ways to make this theme come alive. Many of us just pick up items from the shelf and move along without checking. We want our young people to lead the change,” she stated.

High school students will also participate in a Flea Market Challenge, a supervised real-world simulation where students must identify unsafe or substandard goods while managing a budget.

“Among the products will be items that are not safe for use. It is important that they do the checking before they do the purchasing,” Mrs. Allen noted.

The event will also feature participation from key regulatory and enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Standards Jamaica, National Compliance and Regulatory Authority, Jamaica Customs Agency, and the Fair Trading Commission, among others.

Mrs. Allen said the collaboration demonstrates a unified national approach to consumer protection.

“We are coming together to showcase our mandate as it relates to what it is that we do to protect you, so that you can feel confident when you are shopping, knowing that these agencies are at work for you,” she stated.

During the week, the Commission will conduct walk-throughs of major commercial areas, engaging business operators and reinforcing compliance requirements to ensure that businesses are selling products that are properly sourced and meet established standards.

The CAC head took the opportunity to make a direct appeal to the business community, stating that “without you, we as consumers cannot exist, because we need what you produce. But at the same time, your business cannot do well without consumers. It has to be a relationship. We invite you to join us and help to ensure that we are confident consumers”.

“We want consumers to feel confident when they enter your stores, or when they shop online, knowing that what you are selling is safe and fit for purpose,” she added.

The week’s activities will conclude on Sunday, March 15, with an 8:00 a.m. church service to be hosted by the National Consumer League at Hope United Church in Kingston.

An official message from Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill, will also be broadcast.

Mrs. Allen noted that the Commission will continue promoting the theme throughout the year before moving on to encourage Jamaicans to actively participate in the week’s activities and to follow its social media platforms for updates.

Further details on the week of activities can also be found on the CAC website at https://www.cac.gov.jm/.