f) The sum to be paid in advance if applicable. Article 12 The Consumer Protection Agency shall be established for the implementation of this Law. This Agency shall protect consumer’s rights and interests. The Agency shall be a public independent legal entity affiliated to the Competent Minister. Its headquarter shall be in the city of Cairo and may have branches or offices in the governorates. The Agency shall be entitled to perform whatever necessary to achieve its objectives, including: a) Set the work plans and programmes to protect consumer’s rights and the further confirmation and development of such rights including the methods to achieve this purpose; b) Receive and investigate the complaints made by the consumers and associations; c) Coordinate with the State’s different authorities to implement the provisions of this Law as appearing under its Executive Regulations. The said authorities shall be bound to provide the technical and data and advice requested by the Agency concerning matters related to the complaints made by consumers and associations; d) Study the suggestions and recommendations sent to the Agency concerning consumer’s rights and prepare related researches and studies. Article 13 The Agency shall have a board of directors (the Board of Directors) composed by virtue of a decree issued by the Competent Minister and made up of fifteen members, as follows: A full time chairperson (the Chairperson) with substantial experience in the functions of the Agency and its work; Two members representing the Ministry of Trade and Industry; A member who is a vice-president of the State Council, selected as provided for under the law regulating the State Council; Four members representing associations selected by the Competent Minister and pursuant to the nomination made by associations’ boards of directors; A member representing the special union of associations for the protection of consumer rights, selected pursuant to their boards’ nomination; A member representing the Central Consumer Cooperative Association, selected pursuant to its board’s nomination; A member representing the General Association of Chambers of Commerce, selected pursuant to its board’s nomination; A member representing the association of Egyptian Industries, selected pursuant to its board’s nomination; Three members with related experience; Board members shall serve for a term of three years that may be renewed for one additional term only. The decree composing the Board of Directors shall appoint a Board member as a vice-chairperson (the Vice-Chairperson). The said decree shall also fix the financial treatment of the Chairperson and Board members without being restricted by the governmental laws and regulations provided under any other law. 5