New Consumer Protection Regulations: Traders’ Obligations and New Rules for Distance Contracts and Tourism Services
The Parliament of Montenegro adopted the Consumer Protection Law (“Official Gazette of Montenegro”, No. 002/26 of 9 January 2026), which regulates the protection of consumer rights when purchasing and otherwise trading products on the market. The Law specifically regulates the protection of consumers’ economic interests, legal protection, information and education, as well as other matters relevant to consumer protection.
Based on the new Law, during January and February 2026, subordinate regulations were also adopted to further regulate certain obligations of traders, particularly in relation to contracts concluded outside business premises and at a distance, as well as certain tourism services.
Consumer Protection, Information and Traders’ Obligations
The new Law introduces a number of obligations that traders must fulfil when selling products and providing services. Information about goods must be clear, legible and easily noticeable, and information about goods should, among other things, contain details about the product name, manufacturer, importer, country of origin, quantity, composition, quality, method of use and possible risks.
Information and accompanying documentation relating to goods or services must be written clearly and understandably in the Montenegrin language.
Particular attention is also given to displaying prices. The trader is required to clearly display the selling price and, where applicable, the price per unit of measurement. When goods are sold at a reduced price, both the previous and reduced prices must be displayed, with the previous price being the lowest price applied by the trader during the 30-day period before the reduction, or during a shorter period if the product has been on the market for less than 30 days.
Receipts and Consumer Complaints
The Law also prescribes the obligation to issue a receipt for purchased goods. The receipt must be clear, understandable and easily legible, in the Montenegrin language and with the prescribed content. If a product is sold at a discount, the receipt must include the price before the discount, the percentage and amount of the discount, as well as the amount paid by the consumer.
A consumer has the right to submit a complaint to the trader, including in cases of non-conformity of the product with the contract, in relation to a commercial guarantee or a receipt.
The trader is required to display, in a visible place, information on how and where complaints may be submitted, keep a record of complaints and ensure that an authorized person is available to receive them. The trader must respond to a submitted complaint without delay, and no later than eight days from its receipt. Complaint records must be kept for at least two years.
New Forms for Contracts Concluded Outside Business Premises and at a Distance
The Ministry of Economic Development adopted two rulebooks pursuant to the Consumer Protection Law, published in the “Official Gazette of Montenegro”, No. 020/26 of 18 February 2026.
The Rulebook on the Information Form on the Consumer’s Right to Unilaterally Terminate a Contract Concluded Outside Business Premises or at a Distance prescribes the content of the information form informing consumers of their right to unilaterally terminate such a contract.
The same issue of the “Official Gazette” also published the Rulebook on the Form for Unilateral Termination of a Contract Concluded Outside Business Premises or at a Distance by the Consumer, which prescribes the form that consumers may use to exercise this right.
Both rulebooks enter into force on the eighth day following their publication in the “Official Gazette of Montenegro”.
These rules are particularly important for traders offering products and services via the internet, telephone or other means of distance communication, as well as for business entities concluding contracts outside their business premises.
Special Forms for Tourism Services
The new regulations also introduce standardized documentation in the area of certain tourism services.
The Ministry of Tourism adopted the Rulebook on the Detailed Content of Standard Information Forms for Contracts on Tourism Services, which prescribes the content of standard information forms for:
- a timeshare agreement;
- a long-term tourism product agreement;
- an agreement for the resale of a timeshare or other long-term tourism product;
- an agreement for the exchange of accommodation for overnight stays or other services.
At the same time, the Rulebook on the Content of the Standard Form for Unilateral Termination of Contracts on Tourism Services was adopted, prescribing the form for unilateral termination of the above-mentioned types of contracts.
These two rulebooks were also published in the “Official Gazette of Montenegro”, No. 020/26 of 18 February 2026, and enter into force on the eighth day following their publication.
What Do the New Regulations Mean for Business Entities?
The new consumer protection framework introduces obligations covering different stages of business operations – from providing consumer information and displaying prices, through issuing receipts and handling complaints, to concluding and terminating distance contracts and contracts for certain tourism services.
Business entities should therefore review and, where necessary, align:
- declarations and information accompanying products and services;
- the manner of displaying prices, discounts and other sales benefits;
- receipts, price lists and procedures for receiving and resolving complaints;
- forms and procedures for contracts concluded outside business premises and at a distance;
- documentation used for contracts on tourism services.
The Law additionally regulates areas such as conformity of products and services, commercial guarantees, digital content and digital services, services of general interest, contracts concluded outside business premises and at a distance, and contracts on tourism services.
The Consumer Protection Law enters into force on the eighth day following its publication in the “Official Gazette of Montenegro”, while the above-mentioned rulebooks enter into force on the eighth day following their respective publication.
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