David Songulashvili Participates in the Annual Conference of the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network

The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mr David Songulashvili, attended the opening ceremony of the 2026 Annual Conference of the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN), where he addressed participants. 

In his remarks, Mr Songulashvili underscored the importance of international cooperation, the exchange of expertise and best practices, and close partnership between public authorities and the business community. Mr Songulashvili emphasised that concerted efforts in these areas would help strengthen consumer protection and foster a more sustainable, responsible, and trusted economic environment.

“Today, alongside product quality, consumers are increasingly concerned about the origin of products, the conditions under which they are produced, food safety, and their environmental impact. Digital technologies and artificial intelligence, in turn, offer significant opportunities to improve product traceability and food safety, while also enabling information to be delivered to consumers more rapidly and transparently. This is precisely why sharing international experience and fostering close cooperation between public authorities and businesses are so important. Georgia’s ICPEN Presidency for 2026–2027 represents a significant opportunity to strengthen such cooperation even further,” stated Mr David Songulashvili.

Georgian National Competition and Consumer Agency organised the conference at the National Youth Palace in Tbilisi. The event brought together approximately 100 representatives from 55 countries, including heads and senior officials of consumer protection authorities, representatives of international organisations, and field experts. During the conference, the parties discussed current challenges in consumer protection and enforcement, international experience and best practices, and opportunities for strengthening international cooperation.

In 2026–2027, the Georgian National Competition and Consumer Agency is serving as the Chair of the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN). ICPEN is a global network of authorities responsible for consumer protection and enforcement, bringing together relevant agencies from nearly 80 countries. The Network cooperates with a range of international organisations and partners, including the World Bank, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and other international partners.