The Department of Consumer Affairs is the consumer protection and advocacy arm of the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce. The Department is charged with the responsibility to safeguard the economic interests of consumers through the following areas:

• Consumer Protection – which extends protection to the whole population and therefore benefits people who have not been able to assert their own rights.
• Consumer Education – which is an important part of the education and lifelong learning that all people receive. By giving consumers the skills and knowledge, they require to be active participants in the marketplace, it plays an important role in challenging the marginalization of people and allowing them to make informed choices.

• Empowerment – Which directly supports the demand side of the economy and is fundamental to achieving efficient and equitable economic growth. The ability of consumers to exercise informed choice, reward good manufacturers and retailers and seek redress when standards have not been met, creates the drivers for a more responsive and efficient economy.

The DCA through its two core sections: Education and Research function in the capacity of ensuring consumers are educated on their rights and responsibilities in relation to the Consumer Affairs Act 2011, World Consumer Rights Day activities and  other consumer related issues. 

In order to ensure consumers are more vigilant and educated about their rights and responsibilities, both the research and education section of the department rely on the information acquired through research and consumer interaction to formulate education programmes.