Describes what is customary in the market for sales and customer support.
Last Published: 2/26/2018

The Ministry of Industry, Trade & Labor requires that all businesses provide adequate after-sales service and customer support. Consumer organizations have become stronger in Serbia.  The government adopted a National Strategy for Consumer Protection in 2013, which prescribes a significant extension of the obligations of local authorities; the creation of a unified register of consumer queries and claims; and the enhancement of out-of-court settlement of consumer disputes to relieve the courts and ensure a more efficient enforcement of consumer rights.

The National Council for Consumer Protection is an expert advisory body that was established to improve the system of consumer protection and cooperation between the authorities and other consumer protection entities, including representatives of consumer associations, experts, and chambers of commerce.  It is an independent, non-governmental, and non-partisan alliance of consumer organizations.  Also, some organizations (e.g., the Consumer Centre of Serbia, Centre for Consumer Education and Protection Belgrade, Consumers’ Association of Vojvodina, and FORUM-Nis) work together on consumer protection advocacy.

The new Consumer Protection Law enacted in September, 2014 generally is compliant with the EU consumer protection directive and further improves the protection and position of consumers.  However, its effects will depend on the adoption of the by-laws necessary to regulate it in more detail, the conditions for out-of-court settlement of consumer disputes, the rules for bodies resolving such disputes, etc.

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.