Government is making changes to its Direct Sellers’ Regulations to better protect Nova Scotians and cut red tape for businesses.

Direct sellers are businesses who operate without a retail space, such as door-to-door sales or home parties.

“While direct sellers play an important role in our economy, we want to ensure that Nova Scotians, especially seniors, are better protected from unfair business practices and other acts of consumer fraud,” said Service Nova Scotia Minister Mark Furey.

These changes will protect Nova Scotians by limiting continuing-service contracts to three years and allowing consumers to cancel them at any time, increasing fines for non-compliance and making public the names of non-compliant direct sellers.

Direct sellers, with the exception of those who sell hearing aids, will no longer require a salespersons’ permit. These changes will reduce administrative burdens and save the direct selling industry more than $60,000 a year.

“By modernizing these regulations we are balancing consumer protection for Nova Scotians and the reduction of red tape for businesses,” said Mr. Furey.

The Direct Sellers’ Regulation Act was amended in 2014. These legislative changes will come into effect in the new year.

Source: Release