Consumer protection in Malawi

The main legal basis is the Consumer Protection Act 2003, Cap. 48:10, together with the Competition and Fair Trading Act 2024, which came into force on 1 July 2024 and replaced the 1998 Act. A review of the Consumer Protection Act and draft proposals for a Consumer Protection Bill, complaints mechanism and strategy were reported in 2025, but they are not current law. Consumers are entitled to protection of their economic interests, health and safety, truthful and timely information about price, quality and risks, fair and non-discriminatory treatment, compensation for loss and access to responsible authorities. Providers should supply safe goods and services, follow Malawi Standards, use accurate labels, ingredients, measures and weights, show prices in local currency and provide a receipt, invoice or other proof of purchase. Unfair practices include misleading advertising, exploitative pricing, defective or unsafe products and unfair or unclear contract terms. Depending on the case, the CFTA can support a refund, return or replacement of defective goods, delivery of what was advertised or promised, withdrawal from misleading advertising and cancellation of unfair or exploitative contracts. Administrative fines can reach 5% of an individual's annual turnover or 10% of a company's annual turnover. A CFTC complaint normally starts with a complaint to the provider and supporting evidence, followed by registration and investigation through the CFTC form, online service, email or toll-free number 2489. The CFTC may use mediation or issue an administrative decision and redress. Its headquarters are in Lilongwe, with regional offices in Blantyre and Mzuzu, and its complaint service is free. Keep the contract, receipt or invoice, warranty, payment record, messages, photographs, serial or batch number and complaint reference. Malawi has no single confirmed national response deadline for all consumer complaints. Financial-service complaints go first through the provider and can then reach the Reserve Bank of Malawi or the Registrar of Financial Institutions; the Financial Services Act and the Financial Services (Complaints Handling) Directive 2024 cover banks, insurance, pensions, capital markets, microfinance, mobile money and SACCOs. These complaint schemes are designed to be informal, quick and free, and complaints can be made through complaints-handling@rbm.mw, by telephone, in person or by letter. Telecommunications, broadcasting, data communications, postal and courier complaints can go from the provider to the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) Consumer Affairs Unit, which handles issues such as airtime deductions, disconnection, poor quality, delays, misleading advertising, privacy and mail. The provider should respond under the MACRA guideline within 21 days before escalation to the Consumer Affairs Unit, which is free. Energy complaints about electricity, liquid fuels, gas, tariffs, supply continuity or service quality can be taken to the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA), which may mediate or arbitrate disputes; applicable procedural or mediation fees may exist, but the current amount is not confirmed. The Pharmacy and Medicines Regulatory Authority (PMRA) handles medicines, medical devices and related substances, including market surveillance, recalls and adverse drug reactions. Report a suspected substandard or falsified medicine or an adverse drug reaction to a health facility or PMRA, including through MedSafe-360 using *360# on Airtel or TNM; a separate purchase or refund dispute can also go to the CFTC. The Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) handles standards, testing, measurement, inspection and product-safety complaints, while the relevant sector regulator remains responsible for the sector decision. Travel complaints may involve the Department of Tourism and the Tourism and Hotels Board for licensing, inspection and standards, while the CFTC can address a purchase or service dispute; no single national tourism refund or alternative-dispute portal is confirmed. For fraud, preserve transaction details and contact the provider, the relevant financial regulator, the Fiscal Police or the Anti-Corruption Bureau as appropriate. Crime reports can also be made to the Malawi Police Service, including at the nearest police station or through 0800 990 997, 990 or 997; recovery of money is not guaranteed. Malawi has a formal but institutionally fragmented consumer-protection system, and no national consumer ombudsman or general e-commerce dispute portal is confirmed. General contract interpretation and civil court claims belong to civil law, while specialised financial complaints belong to the financial-services regulators.