The Ministry of Consumer Affairs is the department of the

Government of Spain gl, Goberno de España eu, Espainiako Gobernua , image = , caption = Logo of the Government of Spain , headerstyle = background-color: #efefef , label1 = Role , data1 = Executive power , label2 = Established , d ...

responsible for policies regarding the protection and defense of

consumer rights Consumer protection is the practice of safeguarding buyers of goods and services, and the public, against unfair practices in the marketplace. Consumer protection measures are often established by law. Such laws are intended to prevent business ...

, as well as the regulation, authorization, supervision, control and, where appropriate, sanction of state-level gambling and gaming activities. The department was created by

Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is ...

Pedro Sánchez Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón (; born 29 February 1972) is a Spanish politician who has been Prime Minister of Spain since June 2018. He has also been Secretary-General of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) since June 2017, having p ...

as part of the

Sánchez II Government Sánchez is a Spanish family name. Historical origins "The illustrious Sanchez Family... is descended from one of a number of Gothic knights (caballeros) who in the year 714 escaped from the "barbara furia" of the Mohammedan invasion and took ...

and it is the first time that a ministry is created to be focused on consumer affairs. It took on the responsibilities of the Ministry of Health, Consumer Affairs and Social Welfare regarding consumer affairs; as well as the responsibilities of the

Ministry of Finance A ministry of finance is a part of the government in most countries that is responsible for matters related to the finance. Lists of current ministries of finance Named "Ministry" * Ministry of Finance (Afghanistan) * Ministry of Finance and Ec ...

in gambling matters. It is overseen by the Minister for Consumer Affairs, currently

Alberto Garzón Alberto Carlos Garzón Espinosa (; born 9 October 1985) is a Spanish politician and economist, currently the Spanish Minister of Consumer Affairs. He has been a member of the Communist Party of Spain (PCE) and United Left (''Izquierda Unida' ...

, who was appointed on 13 January 2020.

Structure

The Ministry is structured as follows: * The General Secretariat for Consumer Affairs and Gambling. ** The Directorate-General for Consumer Affairs. *** The Deputy Directorate-General for Coordination, Quality and Consumer Cooperation. *** The Deputy Directorate-General for Arbitration and Consumer Rights. ** The Directorate-General for the Regulation of Gambling. *** The Deputy Directorate-General for the Regulation of Gambling. *** The Deputy Directorate-General for Gambling Inspection. * The Undersecretariat of Consumer Affairs. ** The Technical General Secretariat.

Agencies and other bodies

* The

Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition The Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) is a regulatory agency of the Government of Spain responsible for promoting food safety and for providing guarantees and objective information to consumers and economic agents of the Spanish ...

. * The Research and Quality Control Center. * The Advisory Council for Responsible Gaming * The National Commission to fight the manipulation of sports competitions and betting fraud.

List of officeholders

Office name: *Ministry of Consumer Affairs (2020–present)

References

Ministries established in 2020 2020 establishments in Spain

Consumer A consumer is a person or a group who intends to order, or uses purchased goods, products, or services primarily for personal, social, family, household and similar needs, who is not directly related to entrepreneurial or business activities. ...

Consumer ministries {{Spain-gov-stub