ALGIERS, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The lower house of the Algerian Parliament on Tuesday adopted a bill on electronic commerce, local media reported.
In order to ensure the security of e-commerce process, the bill defines not only the obligations of both e-suppliers and e-customers, but also the provisions that should be included in the e-contract between the two parties.
It also sets conditions for conducting cross-border e-transactions, stipulating that some services, materials and goods should be prohibited from being purchased online, such as gambling, lotteries, alcoholic drinks, tobacco, medicines, products infringing on intellectual property rights, as well as those that may harm national security.
Meanwhile, fines will be imposed on the offenders, depending on the nature of the offenses, as specified in the bill.
Last week, Algerian Minister of Post, Information and Communication Technologies and Digital Economy Iman Houda Faraoun said his country won't open the e-market to foreign e-commerce companies, citing concerns over national economy and sovereignty.
"We recognize the weak control of technology in Algeria, and this is a reality, but we will not sell the country to foreign traders over suspicious suggestions, which will likely jeopardize national sovereignty and economy," said Faraoun when answering lawmakers' questions about the e-commerce bill.
Having been approved by the government and the lower house, the e-commerce bill will now be submitted to the upper house of the parliament for approval before going into force.
Once published in the Official Journal, natural and legal persons already engaged in e-commerce will have six months to comply with the new provisions.
Experts say the e-commerce bill would improve the economic environment in the North African nation by increasing the contribution of sectors such as tourism, handicraft, information technologies and communication, and creating more job opportunities.
