DSA of Russia Update 

In December 2019, the XV International Conference “Entrepreneur and Consumer – Steps Towards Each Other” was held in Moscow, Russia. The conference organizers were the Direct Selling Association of Russia (RDSA) and the International Confederation of Consumer Societies (CONFOP). The conference was conducted within the framework of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) the Consumer Education and Protection Initiative (CEPI) program with the support of the WFDSA.

Over 110 people from Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan participated in the event including direct selling representatives, business associations, academia, the State Duma, the Eurasian Economic Commission, the regional offices of the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare and consumer advocates unions from more than 21 regions of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

In the frame of the conference, the participants raised the topics that could impact direct selling industry in Russia: consumer rights protection, small business development, risks and negative consequences of the implementation of obligatory system of labeling products with control (identification) signs in Russia and the EAEU.

WFDSA Chairman Magnus Brannstrom gave an inspiring speech on global prospects for direct selling industry. WFDSA Executive Director Tamuna Gabilaia presented on the global direct selling industry and also discussed the WFDSA Ethics Code issues, complaints handling procedure.