On Thursday 30^th September 2021, the MCCAA will organise a conference on Alternative Dispute Resolution: An effective means of redress.  The conference is co-funded by the European Union’s Consumer Programme (2014-2020). The ADR conference will focus on how business-to-consumer disputes concerning contractual obligations can be resolved through the ADR redress mechanism.

From time to time, consumers encounter problems with the products or services purchased. While most of these problems are resolved amicably directly with the seller, some disputes are more difficult to settle. In such situations, consumers would need to seek third-party assistance to try and obtain a suitable remedy. One possible way of obtaining this assistance is through the ADR redress mechanism which brings the conflicting parties together without the need to take the case to court.

This dispute resolution tool is available to all EU consumers as in each EU country there are registered ADR entities. With regards to purchases made online, the Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform facilitates the resolution of online disputes. This platform, and how it is used to resolve cross-border online consumer claims, will be during the ADR conference. The conference will review how the ADR redress mechanism helps consumers resolve disputes in practice and will also include presentations from local sector-specific ADR entities to show-case how the ADR functions in specific industries.

The half-day conference will be held at the InterContinental Malta in St Julian’s and it will be addressed by the Minister for Tourism and Consumer Protection, Hon. Clayton Bartolo, the Parliamentary Secretary for Consumer Protection and Public Cleansing, Hon. Deo Debattista, and other distinguished speakers.

Agenda

Attendance to the ADR conference is free of charge and registration to attend can be done online or by calling on 2395 2000.

Early registration is advisable as seats are limited. Registrations will be accepted on a first come first serve basis.