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Founded: 13 March 1999
Registered: 25 May 1999
Reg. No.: 000804181
Headquarters address:
Chairperson: Mrs. Tekla Zabova
55 Brivibas Street, 2nd entrance
Riga LV-1010
phone/fax: (+371) 7 296 884
e-mail
download PIAA logo
During the development of market economy in Latvia a new non-governmental movement - consumers' rights protection - has appeared. In March 1999, ten years after the first Consumer Club was founded in Riga, Consumer Clubs and Societies from all over Latvia united to form the Latvian National Association for Consumer Protection (PIAA). The founder members are regional consumer clubs from Riga, Jurmala, Rezekne, Latgale region, Jelgava and Ogre, and a tenants associations from Liepaja. The Association is an independent non-governmental umbrella-organisation, which works nationally to extend and protect consumer rights in Latvia, as well as to co-ordinate the work of local and regional groups.
Latvian National Association for Consumer Protection is a big step forward to development of non-governmental consumer protection organisations and consumers' protection movement in Latvia, becoming most important representative of consumers interest of the country on a national and international level.
The foundation of the Association was made possible by strong influence from European consumer organisationas and a one-year grant from the Nordic Council within a project "The Support for Establishment of a National Level Non-governmental Consumer Protection Organisation in Latvia".
After the foundation of the national Association in 1999, new regional organisations were established, so that today PIAA consists of 11 regional organisations - consumer protection clubs and landlords and tenants' associations:
The growing regional network is a result of the insight, shared by the majority of regional and local clubs, that joining the forces in a national association is the best way for small regional groups to influence the consumer policy of the country and to develop modern instruments of consumer information, advice and education.
Members of Associations are a strong and enthusiastic team, united in order to purposefully plan and co-ordinate consumers' protection network in Latvia.
PIAA member organisations are independent legal entities that are operating as complaints-handling and campaigning agencies, carrying out small investigative studies, representing consumers on consultative bodies and working with the government institutions on legislation, and education and information programmes. There is much goodwill and practical co-operation between the government sector and the voluntary organisations.
In 2006 PIAA and its member organisations dealt with 10123 consumer complaints, majority of which refered to services (38%), rent and utilities (21%), consumer law (13%), construction (12%), footwear (8%), electrical appliances (6%), food (2%).
Members of Association represent consumers in several committees and councils: nationally in Food Council, Energy Consumers Committee, Standardisation Committee, local municipalities, etc., and internationally in European Consumer Consultative Group in Brussels (Mrs. Silvia Viksnina) and European Consumer Voice in Standardisation ANEC (Mrs. Lilia Stelpe)
Since 2004 Association is a member of European Consumer Organisation BEUC.
PIAA has set itself the following broad goals:
- to co-ordinate the work of non-government organisations working for the consumer in Latvia
- to educate consumers about their rights and obligations in buying goods, using services and protecting the environment
- to ensure that consumers have the information they need to make rational choices
- to protect the economic interest of consumers
- to protect consumers from damage or danger to health, property or life
- to become actively involved in reviewing consumer complaints, mechanisms for resolving them, and proposals for improving means of redress
- to publicise instances of unsafe or fake products and of deceptive selling practices.
Association informs society about consumer protection on different mass media. Association provides legal advice to consumers in case their rights have been violated.
Association regularly organises educational seminars for representatives of regional consumers' protection clubs, thus developing capacity of regional consumer advice-giving services. Association members regularly attend BEUC training course for consumer organisations in Brussels.
On 13 June 2007, Mrs. Tekla Zabova was re-elected the Chairperson of the Association.
On the Board of nine members are representatives from regional clubs (elected on 13 June 2007):
- Chairperson of Board - Tekla Zabova (Consumer Protection Club of Jelgava)
- Zinta Kovalevska (Club for Protection of Consumer Interests)
- Silvia Viksnina (Consumer Support Centre)
- Romans Nagijevs (Riga Tenants Association)
- Martins Kokars (Consumer Protection Club of Gulbene)
- Ilga Vecziedina (Consumer Rights Protection Organisation of Ogre)
- Olita Ansone (Cesis Consumers Protection Association "Aizstavis")
- Edmunds Papss (Consumer Rights Protection Association of Daugavpils)
- Lija Luse (Salacgriva)
The most important partners of co-operation with PIAA are:
Latest projects implemented by PIAA:
Strengthening Consumer Confidence in Safety of Large Range of Products
- Donors of the project: European Commission DG SANCO
- Duration: 1 Jun 2005 - 31 Aug 2006
- Location: Latvija
- Project leader: Zinta Kovalevska
Macro-project "Promotion of Consumer Interests in Latvia and Strengthening of PIAA"
- Donors of the project: Phare Access
- Duration: 1 July 2001 - 30 September 2002
- Location: Jurmala, Jelgava, Ogre, Cesis and Daugavpils
- Project director: Zinta Kovalevska, Executive Director of Club for Protection of Consumer Interests
- Aim: To contribute to the development of consumer policy in Latvia, to develop and to strengthen the National Consumer Protection Assosiation, to establish a network of regional and local advice offices and to extend the information system Infothek. The main activities of the project were awareness raising of consumers by organising media campaigns and publishing relevant information materials, the organisation of training for the association's staff and its employees, the establishement of a Consumer Council that would act as a advisory body for the government.
- Results: A network of 5 advice offices was established in Latvia and training of 10-15 advisers was delivered. Three leaflets (on price indication, consumer credit, genetically modified food) and a brochure on the latest in consumer legislation have been published, 3000 copies each. The relevant proposals concerning consumer legislation and establishment of Consumer Council were submitted to the Government of Latvia.
Knowledge Is Your Protection!
- Donors of the project: Nordic Council of Ministers
- Duration: 1 August 2002 - 1 January 2003
- Location: Latvia
- Project director: Agnese Zviedre
- Aim: To raise consumer awareness on food labelling and endorsement logos.
- Results: A brochure "Food Labels in Latvia" has been published and distributed. Presentation seminars have been held about the results of the research and the brochure.
Know What You Are Paying For
- Donors of the project: Soros Foundation Latvia
- Duration: 1 October 2002 - 1 July 2003
- Location: Latvia
- Project director: Tekla Zabova
- Aim: Examination and monitoring of the methodology for calculating utility costs in local governments
- Results: Workshops for regional advice-giving experts on services of general interest. Water and heating tariffs in Cesis and Jelgava have been examined. Amendments to the legislative acts have been proposed.
PIAA Participation in Legislation
- Donors of the project: Baltic-American Partnership Programme
- Duration: 2003
- Location: Latvia
- Project director: Tekla Zabova
- Aim: To provide legal assistance to consumers
- Results: Consumer interests represented in court
Latvian Consumer in the European Union
- Donors of the project: Baltic-American Partnership Programme
- Duration: 2004-2005
- Location: Latvia
- Project director: Tekla Zabova
- Results: Training courses on consumer law in the EU
What's a Credit?
- In collaboration with: Aizkraukles Bank
- Duration: 2004
- Location: Latvia
- Aim: Raising consumer awareness on mortgage credits
- Results: a brochure, website, toll-free hotline and media advertisements on mortgage credits
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