Regional division of Rospotrebnadzor (the state consumer rights watchdog) received 5,337 complaints in writing and 23,000 complaints altogether in 2006. All of last year’s claims amounted to approximately 84 million RUR, Vladimir Gurvich (M.D. and Deputy Chief State Sanitary Inspector in Sverdlovsk Region) announced at a press conference.

‘Our inspections resulted in withdrawing 25 million RUR worth of goods last year; besides, they revealed 14 million RUR worth of low-quality services,’ he said.

‘Our regional division provided 7,000 pieces of professional advice and conducted over 7,000 inspections in 2006,’ Mr. Gurvich observed.