Complying with the Fair Trading Act
Developing a Fair Trading Compliance Programme
The Fair Trading Act exists to prohibit certain conduct and practices in trade and to provide for the disclosure of consumer information relating to the supply of goods and services and to promote product safety.
Maintaining systems
The sample Fair Trading Act compliance policy can be used as a basic in-house standard of conduct for Fair Trading Act compliance.
Educating staff
An essential part of a compliance programme is the training of staff to ensure that, when dealing with the public, they always bear in mind their responsibilities under the Fair Trading Act.
Promotional material and advertising
Many of the complaints made to the Commerce Commission are the result of inadequately checked publicity material.
Handling complaints
A system to deal with complaints or possible contraventions of the Fair Trading Act should be part of any compliance programme.
Understand your compliance obligations
The Fair Trading Act’s primary focus is on anyone in trade – from a bank, hotel or department store through to the local plumber or corner dairy.
