Starting July 1, 2026, consumers in Armenia will be able to cancel most online and in-person purchase contracts without explanation within 14 days. The opportunity is provided for by new consumer protection regulations from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission of Armenia, which cover both remote purchases, like online and phone orders, and offline contracts made in person. These regulations were developed as part of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Armenia and the European Union.
The changes were recently presented to businesses, public organizations, and other interested parties. They are designed to strengthen Armenia’s consumer protection system in line with international standards, while creating a more predictable and transparent environment for businesses to operate in, Commission member Shushan Sargsyan explained.
Under the new rules, sellers and service providers must give consumers complete, clear, and easy-to-understand information, and when you buy something electronically, you’ll have to separately confirm that you’re agreeing to pay, with the order button itself required to say so clearly, for example by reading “order with payment obligation.” When companies sell to you over the phone, they’ll also be required to identify who they are and state upfront that the call is for commercial, or sales, purposes.
The new rules also widen the list of unfair terms that companies can no longer slip into standard contracts, the kind you accept without negotiating. Specifically, sellers won’t be allowed to change the specifications of goods or services on their own without good reason, restrict your right to cancel the contract, or take away your ability to defend your rights in court or through other dispute resolution, and any such terms will be considered invalid from the moment the contract is signed, carrying no legal consequences for consumers.
Commission representatives also briefed attendees on how compliance with the new requirements will be enforced, along with the penalties for breaking the law.
