The Crisis of Consumer Law: Between Legal Text and Institutional Implementation

The current state of consumer protection in Morocco falls short of ensuring the necessary balance between consumers and suppliers, the latter of whom often possess superior technical expertise. This disparity enables suppliers to exploit consumer interests in pursuit of profit maximization. The ineffectiveness of existing consumer protection laws is the product of multiple intersecting factors that collectively hinder both legal and judicial systems from providing adequate safeguards when consumer rights are at risk in transactions with professional parties. To address this deficit and realize the required level of protection, concerted and coordinated efforts from various stakeholders are essential. Such reform must begin with a robust legislative initiative dedicated solely to consumer protection—free from conflicting interests that could compromise its effectiveness. This includes strengthening the substantive aspects of consumer protection law by amending and expanding the scope of existing rights and explicitly outlining procedural rules for resolving consumer disputes in court. Moreover, the promotion of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms should be prioritized. Achieving these reforms ultimately demands the creation of a comprehensive code encompassing all dimensions of consumer protection, covering both traditional and digital consumer contexts.