From May 18 to 20, a delegation from the National Competition Commission under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, representing Vietnam, attended the 32nd Meeting of the ASEAN Committee on Consumer Protection (ACCP) and related meetings in Yangon, Myanmar. The event brought together representatives of consumer protection agencies from ASEAN member states, the ASEAN Secretariat, and a number of international partners involved in implementing technical assistance and capacity-building programmes in the field of consumer protection across the region.

In accordance with the ACCP's rotational mechanism, the National Competition Commission officially assumed the chairmanship of the ACCP for 2026. In this role, the Commission will coordinate the agendas of the 32nd and 33rd ACCP meetings, while leading efforts to promote a wide range of regional cooperation activities on consumer protection throughout 2026.

During the handover ceremony, Ronnarong Phoolpipat, Secretary-General of Thailand's Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB), highly appreciated the positive progress achieved in consumer protection across ASEAN in recent years. He also expressed confidence that Vietnam would continue to play an effective coordinating role and further strengthen cooperation among member states in the coming period.

Delivering opening remarks as ACCP Chair for 2026, Trinh Anh Tuan, Chairman of the National Competition Commission, underscored the importance of enhancing cooperation among ASEAN countries to address emerging challenges in consumer protection, particularly amid the rapid development of the digital economy, artificial intelligence (AI), green consumption, and cross-border transactions. The Chairman also outlined several priority directions for the ACCP over the next 12 months, focusing on strengthening enforcement capacity for consumer protection agencies, enhancing cooperation on product safety, improving the effectiveness of the Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) network, promoting the participation of social organisations in consumer protection efforts, and expanding cooperation with international partners.

At the meeting, ASEAN member states provided updates on the implementation of consumer protection policies and legislation in their respective countries. The Vietnamese delegation shared recent developments in consumer protection efforts in Vietnam, particularly in the context of new regulations that have delegated and decentralised a number of responsibilities to local authorities.

The ASEAN Secretariat and member states also reviewed the implementation of the ASEAN Strategic Action Plan for Consumer Protection 2026 - 2030 (ASAPCP 2026 - 2030). Thematic sessions highlighted various cooperation initiatives with partners including Australia, the UK and the European Union (EU), focusing on technical assistance, training, experience sharing in enforcement, and consumer awareness enhancement across the region. According to the overall assessment, these cooperation projects have been implemented effectively, helping strengthen the capacity of enforcement agencies in ASEAN member states while contributing to the development of a more transparent, safe and sustainable consumer environment throughout the region.

The 32nd ACCP Meeting and related sessions concluded successfully. In its capacity as ACCP Chair for 2026, the National Competition Commission effectively presided over the meeting. The Vietnamese delegation also actively contributed opinions and initiatives to ASEAN's collective cooperation activities while proactively sharing Vietnam's practical experiences and expertise in protecting consumer rights.