Belarusian authorities have addressed violations of legislation governing distance selling, identified by prosecutors during supervisory measures. The cases involved online stores reserving the right to cancel an order that had already been placed or change the price of a product.
Prosecutors found that some online stores’ websites contained provisions allowing sellers to unilaterally cancel an order or refuse to sell a product at the price displayed on the website and agreed with the buyer.
Under the law, a seller is required to provide the buyer with a product ordered in accordance with the established procedure at the price in effect when the order was placed. A seller may not unilaterally change the terms of the contract, including the price of the product. Contract terms that restrict consumer rights compared with those provided for by law are void.
At the initiative of the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade took measures to address the violations. Online stores brought the terms of sale posted on their websites into compliance with the law and removed provisions that infringed on buyers’ rights.
