The Ministry of Industry, Entrepreneurship, Trade and Innovation (MIETI) has made significant progress in strengthening market surveillance and protecting consumer rights in 2026. With the entry into force of the Law on the Central Inspectorate for Market Supervision in February 2026, MIETI has paid particular attention to increasing the efficiency of inspections, strengthening market control and promptly addressing citizens’ complaints.
During the first half of 2026 alone, the Central Inspectorate for Market Supervision (CIMS) has carried out over 3,000 inspections in various areas, including the petroleum derivatives market, general product safety, market surveillance and consumer protection. In addition, over 250 inspections have been carried out to verify the fulfillment of minimum technical conditions by economic operators.
In order to protect consumers, over 600 complaints were addressed during this period, while the CIMS has also developed joint actions with the Kosovo Police, Kosovo Tax Administration (TAK), Kosovo Metrology Agency (KMA) and Food and Veterinary Agency (FVA).
The increased efficiency in market surveillance is also reflected in punitive measures. Compared to the same period last year, the imposition of fines has increased by 33.33%. During the first half of 2026, approximately 600 thousand euros in fines were imposed for various violations identified during inspections, including the discrepancy between shelf and cash register prices, the trading of products without declaration, the exercise of activity without registration with the KBRA, the use of measuring instruments with an expired validity period, failure to comply with the deadlines set in the inspection reports, the trading of products with an expired date, as well as the placing on the market of products that do not comply with the legislation in force.
In order to directly address the issues affecting citizens, the CIMS has conducted special inspection actions in areas of particular public interest. Among the topics addressed were the prices of petroleum products, electricity meters, cryptocurrencies, the activity of massage centers and nightclubs, dairy products, the sale of electronic cigarettes near primary schools, private parking lots not registered with the KBRA, as well as other issues raised by consumers of the Republic of Kosovo.
Progress has also been made in increasing the Inspectorate’s capacities, with the first phase of transferring local market inspectors to the Central Inspectorate having been completed. This process has created greater capacities for market surveillance at the national level, and by the end of 2026 the number of Market Inspectors is expected to reach 100.
In the context of increasing transparency and providing more efficient services to citizens, MIETI has also launched a platform on Viber for the rapid addressing of consumer complaints, at +383 (46) 311-000.
Within the framework of institutional cooperation, the Consumer Protection Council has also been operationalized. Four meetings have been organized until July, in which, with the participation of representatives of relevant institutions, the most important issues and problems faced by consumers in the country have been addressed.
These results demonstrate MIETI’s commitment to a more orderly, transparent and secure market, as well as to strengthening institutional mechanisms to protect consumers and the public interest. MIETI will continue its work to further strengthen inspection capacities, increase inter-institutional cooperation and ensure compliance with applicable legislation, with the aim of creating a fair and secure environment for businesses and consumers.
