Institute for Consumer Protection- Mauriius

The Institute for Consumer Protection (ICP) takes its origin from a breastfeeding advocacy movement- MAPBIN (Mauritian Action for the Promotion of Breastfeeding and Infant Nutrition) that was set up in June 1983 by a group of young volunteers who were working on a UNESCO Adult Education Programme under the leadership of Yousouf Jhugroo (see MAPBIN).

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ICP is today an Independent, not for profit, registered national consumer watchdog for Mauritius. We are a major player in the Mauritian economy. ICP is partly funded by the government.

Working with various Government bodies, the business community and Public Corporations, ICP puts consumers’ interests at the centre of what we do.

Our Vision: “Giving Power to Consumers”

It is our vision to see consumers dictating the market and exercise a positive influence on the quality, standards and price of goods and services that they buy. We want to see consumers, especially the most vulnerable, to be able to assert their rights and demonstrate responsibility to the environment when buying and using goods and services.

Our Mission

We are here to ensure that consumers get value for money and that the goods and services they buy are of very high quality, safe and are offered at reasonable prices.

We also want to see consumers receiving fair treatment and have access to efficient, speedy and hassle-free customer services, especially when filing complaints about shoddy and faulty goods or about unsatisfactory services, or billing complaints.

Our Core Values

ICP has set itself four core values that dictate the way we carry out our business:

1. Commitment: All our staff are fully committed to the consumer cause
2. Integrity and honesty: We will build relationships based on honesty and trust and will always respect the confidentiality entrusted to us
3. Professionalism: As professionals we will perform to the highest standards and treat stakeholders with courtesy and respect
4. Teamwork: We will cooperate, collaborate and work with each other as a team

Our Aim

ICP has set itself the following strategic aim:

A platform for dealing successfully with all matters that concern consumers and consumer-related issues, whether it is about raising awareness, about undertaking research or about representing consumer views at national and international forums.

To achieve this aim, we

1. Provide a voice to the consumers on all matters relating to production, distribution and sales of goods and services.
2. Promote and defend consumer interests at all levels of decision-making that affect and impact on the daily lives of consumers.
3. Empower consumers, through education and training, to assert their rights on the market.
4. Act as the consumer advocate and ensure that consumers receive a fairer deal and obtain value for money.
5. Provide independent advice to consumers based on factual information obtained through research and testing.
6. Monitor the market and ensure that providers of goods and services are compliant with their legal, statutory and contractual obligations.