Djibouti has no standalone consumer protection law. Consumer protection sits in Part II, "On the protection of consumers" (Articles 39 to 73), of Law No. 28/AN/08/6ème L of 21 December 2008, a combined law on competition, the repression of fraud and consumer protection, implemented by Decree No. 2011-030/PR/MCI of the Ministry of Commerce.
Suppliers must verify that their products conform to the established criteria. Articles 49 and 50 prohibit misleading consumers about the substantial qualities, composition or mode of use of products, and selling falsified or toxic substances, and Article 51 provides for regulatory measures and criteria on the safety of manufactured and imported goods, their composition, and hygiene and health conditions.
Articles 40 to 47 require accurate price information and make suppliers contractually responsible for misleading information or advertising; clauses creating an imbalance between the rights of consumers and professionals are void (Article 44), and refusal to sell without a legitimate reason is prohibited (Article 47). Suppliers must guarantee products, provide after-sales service and spare parts (Article 46), and refusing a refund or replacement is sanctioned (Article 65). Articles 58 to 70 set the penalties.
Pending revision: the COMESA Competition Commission notes that the law needs updating and that the government intends to draft new national consumer protection legislation; no draft has been found.
Sources: Journal Officiel de la République de Djibouti (official text); implementing decree on UNEP-LEAP; UN ESCWA Arab Business Legislative Frameworks profile for Djibouti (2023).