Cambodia: New commerce laws come into effect

• Nov 13, 2019

The much-awaited e-commerce and customer protection laws came into effect on Nov 2 after the drafts were signed by King Norodom Sihamoni.

Composed of 12 chapters and 67 articles, the E-Commerce Law aims to promote trade via electronic means and addresses key topics like electronic signatures, which are seen as an important tool in making electronic transactions more secure.

The government has announced a six-month moratorium to promote the law to the public before implementation begins.

The Customer Protection law is composed of 11 chapters and 51 articles and its goal is to create a level playing field for businesses and protect consumers by reducing unethical and illegal retail and promotional practices.

It also aims to empower authorities when conducting crackdowns on counterfeit goods, advertisements that mislead consumers, or products that pose a health risk to consumers.

Mao Thora, secretary of state of Ministry of Commerce, said yesterday that before the E-Commerce Law is implemented, the government needs six months to educate stakeholders on the legislation and prepare the necessary documentation.

“Before it is fully implemented, we have to prepare legal procedures and documents, including the necessary sub-decrees,” Mr Thora said.

The drafts of the laws were approved by the Council of Ministers and then submitted to the National Assembly before reaching the Senate.

The laws were drafted by the Ministry of Commerce in 2012.

Source: https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50658753/new-commerce-laws-come-into-effect/