GOVT. SENDS FINAL BILL ON CONSUMER PROTECTION INTO PARL. PROCEDURE

ZAGREB, April 10 (Hina) - The Croatian government on Thursday forwarded into parliamentary procedure a final bill on consumer protection, under which the interests of Croatian consumers will be respected in accordance with European laws and practice. #L# The bill pays special attention to the obligations of merchants and bodies of state administration with regard to the sale of public services, including electricity, gas and water supply, heating, fixed telephony, public transportation, sewage disposal and urban sanitation. Abiding by EU guidelines, the government has integrated into the bill a principle under which public services must be available to all citizens, including less privileged ones, at reasonable prices, Economy Minister Ljubo Jurcic said. Under the bill, citizens owning fixed phones will be enabled to pay phone bills in advance and have access to certain phone numbers blocked free of charge. Subscription fees for fixed telephony will continue to be collected while other utilities will be paid depending on consumption. Under the bill, regulatory bodies will pass decisions only after consulting an advisory body including representatives of consumers. The bill also envisages the establishment of a commission for consumer complaints and a consumer counselling service. National consumer protection programmes will be adopted every other year. (hina) rml