CONSUMER PROTECTION IN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA AND THE EUROPEAN UNION

Svi ljudi koji kupuju proizvode i koriste usluge nazivaju se potrošačima. Pedesetih godina prošlog stoljeća dolazi do ubrzanog ekonomskog rasta te se povećava razmjena roba i usluga, potiču se ulaganja u inovacije i tehnička dostignuća te se prakticira korištenje novih mehanizama koji ujedno olakšavaju i ubrzavaju proizvodnju. Kako vrijeme odmiče, sve se više počinju koristiti pojmovi poput potrošačkog društva i konzumerizma. Naime, upravo konzumerizam je najznačajniji pokret zaštite potrošača, a definiran je kao grupa aktivnosti nezavisnih organizacija, vlada i biznisa stvorenih da zaštite potrošače. Najvažnije je ostvariti pravo na informaciju, zaštitu zdravlja, mogućnost i zaštitu izbora te na sigurnost u procesu kupovine i korištenja usluga i proizvoda. Vrlo je bitno da je svaka osoba educirana o vlastitim pravima i obvezama jer je cijela populacija u određenom trenutku potrošač. U modernom i užurbanom ritmu današnjeg svijeta potrošači imaju pravo i mogućnost izbora. Razlikuju se u mnogočemu, no zajedničko im je da svi imaju potrošačku potrebu i mogućnost prilagodbe potrošnje svojim mogućnostima. Dakle, zbog rasprostranjenog tržišta, prodavači više nisu u mogućnosti uvelike diktirati potrošačku politiku. Zaštita potrošača prisutna je kako bi zaštitila svaku osobu od mogućih prevara i lažnog informiranja. U procesu razvoja potrošačke kulture u RH, Udruge za zaštitu potrošača imaju ključnu ulogu. One pružaju sigurnost potrošaču i pridonose pravilnoj provedbi zaštite potrošača nadgledanjem tržišta.People that buy products and consume services are called consumers. In the 1950s, economic growth accelerated and the exchange of goods and service sincre as edinvestments ininnovation and technical achievements wereen couraged, and the use of new mechan is ms was practiced, which both facilitated and accelerated production. As time goesby,termssuch as consumer society and consumerism are increasingly being used. Namely, consumerism is the most important consumer protection movement, and it is defined as a group of activities of independent organizations, governments and businesses created to protect consumers. The most important thing is to exercise the right to information, health protection, opportunity and protection of choice, and to security in the process of purchasing and using services and products. It is very important that each person is educated about their own rights and obligations because the whole population is a consumer at some point. In the modern and hectic pace of today's world, consumers have the right and choice. They differ but what they all have incommon is that they all have a consumer need and the ability to adjust consumption to their capabilities. Thus, due to the wide spread market, sellers are no longerable to largely dictate consumer policy. Consumer protection is present to protect every person from possible fraud and false information. In the process of developing consumer culture in the Republic of Croatia, Consumer Protection Associations have a key role. They provide security to the consumer and contribute to the proper implementation of consumer protection by monitoring the market