The Consumer Protection Law, known locally as قانون حمایت از مستهلک, sets a formal basis for protection against fraud, false information and poor-quality goods or services. Suppliers should provide correct product and service information, labels and prices, and should not use misleading advertising. Documented remedies include repair or replacement, return of goods, correct performance and compensation for financial or physical damage. The current availability and enforcement of these remedies, as well as general deadlines, are not publicly verified nationwide. A consumer should first contact the seller, provider or financial institution in writing. Keep the receipt or invoice, packaging and label, advertised price, contract, payment record, messages, photographs and, where relevant, a product sample. There is no currently verified general withdrawal period for online or shop purchases, and no verified nationwide complaint fee or processing deadline. Afghanistan has no currently verified general consumer court, consumer ombudsman, unified complaint portal or central e-commerce complaint office. The Ministry of Propagation of Virtue, Prevention of Vice and Hearing Complaints provides a current functional channel for reports about hoarding, excessive prices, expired goods, fraud and incorrect weights through the free 191 telephone line, an online form and provincial offices. It can inspect, seal or refer cases to the justice system, but it is not a private civil court. Complaints against Emirate authorities or officials follow that ministry's complaint process, while civil claims against private individuals generally go through justice or court channels. The Ministry of Justice General Directorate of Huqooq handles civil, commercial and property claims, including conciliation and enforcement of final decisions; legal and Sharia consultation is available through 188. Local shura or jirga processes, elders and negotiations with a seller may be faster or cheaper, but they are informal, have uneven evidentiary value and do not guarantee enforcement. Pressure or bias can create additional risks, especially for women, minorities and people in remote areas. Kabul and provincial access, security, language and gender-related barriers can change the practical process. Sector-specific channels matter. A bank or financial institution should receive a complaint first, followed by Da Afghanistan Bank's financial consumer protection service at customer.protection@dab.gov.af or 0202511726. Historical DAB rules mention immediate reporting for electronic funds transfer problems, a 15-day notice, a maximum of 30 days, up to 45 days for certain credit-information reviews and up to 20 working days for specified DAB disputes; current application should be verified. For payment fraud, notify the bank, electronic-money institution or wallet immediately and retain the transaction ID. Criminal fraud can also be reported to the police or justice authorities, including the documented police channel 119. For telecommunications, contact the operator first and then the Afghanistan Telecom Regulatory Authority, ATRA, at 999, 0202101130 or info@atra.gov.af. ATRA has ordered refunds in documented cases involving unauthorised value-added-service activation and overpriced internet packages. For electricity billing or supply problems, contact Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat through customer service 144 or its online complaint form. The Ministry of Transport and Aviation accepts complaints about transport and aviation services, but no general passenger-refund or compensation deadline is publicly verified. For medicines and food products, the Afghanistan Food and Drug Authority handles post-market inspection, quality complaints, pharmacovigilance, recalls, disposal and advertising control through +93 788080101, info@afda.gov.af and provincial offices. The Standards and Quality Authority or ANSA, and the Afghanistan Oil and Gas Corporation for published fuel retail prices, may be relevant for standards, quality and fuel-price issues. Food and drug safety, counterfeit or expired goods, price and weight fraud, telecommunications, banking and payment problems, and electricity billing have particularly high practical relevance. Digital commerce and travel complaints are also covered, but Afghanistan has no currently verified general online-return system, platform-liability process or nationwide refund service.
Consumer protection in Afghanistan
Consumer protection in Afghanistan covers rights and complaint channels for purchases, services, contracts, financial products, digital offers and essential goods. The Consumer Protection Law was published in 2016 and addresses truthful information, prices, labels, quality and misleading advertising. Enforcement is fragmented, so consumers usually begin with the supplier and then contact the responsible sector authority or the courts.
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