The Fair Competition Commission (FCC) has officially launched the 2026 World Consumer Rights Day celebrations, which will culminate on March 31, 2026, in Dar es Salaam.
Speaking to journalists earlier on March 3, 2026, the Acting Director General of the FCC Ms: Khadija Ngasongwa said the celebrations aim to strengthen consumer protection and promote a safe, competitive, and accountable marketplace.
World Consumer Rights Day is commemorated annually on March 15, marking the historic 1962 address to the United States Congress by former U.S. President John F. Kennedy, who first outlined fundamental consumer rights.
His speech laid the foundation for the recognition of the Eight Consumer Rights now acknowledged globally.
The observance was formally established in 1983 following guidelines developed by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
The 2026 celebrations are guided by the theme “Safe Products, Confident Consumer.” The theme underscores the importance of ensuring that goods and services available in the market meet national and international standards and do not endanger the health, safety, or economic interests of consumers. It also seeks to build consumer confidence by promoting transparency, quality assurance, and accountability among businesses.
According to the FCC, adherence to this year’s theme brings significant economic benefits. Consumers who prioritize quality contribute to a stable and sustainable economy by making informed purchasing decisions.
At the same time, businesses that produce and distribute high quality products benefit from fair competition, which fosters innovation, efficiency, and long term economic growth.
At the international level, UNCTAD adopted new Global Consumer Product Safety Principles on December 16, 2025, aimed at strengthening consumer protection frameworks in both traditional and online markets.
The move addresses a global gap, as approximately 44 percent of United Nations member states lack comprehensive legal and institutional systems to ensure product safety.
Meanwhile, Consumers International has placed strong emphasis on improving product safety within e-commerce, a rapidly growing sector that presents transparency and quality challenges for consumers.
Domestically, the FCC has initiated processes to declare national standards in accordance with the Fair Competition Act No. 8 of 2003, as amended, and has conducted a Consumer Protection Assessment in e-commerce businesses in Mainland Tanzania.
The findings are expected to inform policy decisions aimed at strengthening consumer protection in the digital marketplace.
As part of the 2026 celebrations, the FCC will conduct public awareness campaigns through television and radio programs, public lectures in higher learning institutions, consumer clinics in the regions of Pwani, Dodoma, Musoma, Njombe, and Tanga, as well as seminars for traders and stakeholders in the construction sector. Road shows will also be organized to reach wider audiences across the country.
The national climax of the celebrations is scheduled for March 31, 2026, at Johari Rotana Hotel in Dar es Salaam, where the Minister for Industry and Trade, Judith Kapinga, is expected to officiate as the Guest of Honor.
The FCC has called upon manufacturers and traders to ensure that products meet established safety and quality standards, while urging consumers to demand receipts, read product information carefully, and report unsafe or misleading goods and services.
Through collective effort, the Commission emphasized, Tanzania can build a marketplace defined by trust, fairness, and responsible competition, ultimately fostering a resilient and inclusive economy for all citizens.