Bosnia and Herzegovina introduces Do Not Call register and debates Sunday trading

Bosnia and Herzegovina is implementing new measures regarding consumer privacy and retail regulations. The Regulatory Agency for Communications (RAK) has introduced the “Ne zovi” (Do Not Call) public electronic register. This allows mobile and fixed-line users, including legal entities and prepaid customers with registered identities, to opt out of marketing calls, SMS, MMS, and faxes from companies, political parties, religious communities, and humanitarian organizations. The registration process is free and managed through telecommunications operators, who must process requests within three working days.

Simultaneously, political debate has intensified regarding the ban on Sunday trading in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH). Critics and political figures, including SDA Vice President Haris Zahiragić, have argued that the ban is ineffective and economically damaging. They note that consumers are simply traveling to nearby East Sarajevo in the Republika Srpska to complete their shopping, thereby shifting revenue and tax contributions across entity lines. Labor unions have suggested that any return to Sunday trading must balance consumer needs with workers' rights, ensuring fair compensation and mandatory rest days.