THE United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has urged the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry to clearly spell out the role of the Competition Commission in the rules it is working out for the Competition Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT).

An expert for UNCTAD Alexander Kububa said the ministry should also ensure that it spells out the roles of the tribunal and the general law courts in the enforcement of the consumer protection provisions of the Act.

Mr Kububa said this would ensure that the desired fast tracking of consumer protection remedies were met.

"The rules being worked out for the CCPT should clearly spell out the roles of the commission, the tribunal and general law courts in the enforcement of consumer protection provisions of the Act to ensure the desired fast tracking of consumer protection remedies," Mr Kububa said.

He noted that the establishment of the CCPT under the Competition Consumer Protection Act was designed to fast track consumer protection remedies.

Mr Kububa said Section 50(5) of the Act provided that a person who or an enterprise which failed to comply with a commission order to recall a product from the market committed an offence and was liable to a fine or imprisonment upon conviction.

He also recommended that the treasury should ensure that the operations of the competition consumer protection commission CCPC were fully funded from the Government grants.

Mr Kububa said the funding from the grants should include the provision of funds to fill the existing human resources gap in the commission and procure the much needed capital goods and equipment, motor vehicles and office premises.