What type of conduct does section 9 of the FTA address?

Section 9 of the Fair Trading Act (FTA) addresses misleading conduct in trade. This provision is aimed at protecting consumers and ensuring fair competition by prohibiting representations that could lead consumers to form incorrect beliefs about goods or services. Misleading conduct encompasses a wide range of behaviors, including false representations and omissions of information that may mislead consumers in their purchasing decisions.

To elaborate further, the essence of this section is to promote honesty and transparency in trade by ensuring that all representations made in the course of business dealings are accurate and not misleading. This helps build consumer trust and maintains the integrity of the market.

The other options, while related to consumer protection and market integrity, address different themes. Fraudulent conduct typically implies intentional deception for personal gain and may fall under different legal frameworks. Negligent behavior involves a lack of reasonable care which does not directly align with the scope of misleading conduct as defined by the FTA. Similarly, deceptive practices can be seen as a broader term that may encompass actions other than those specifically classified as misleading, but section 9 is specifically focused on misleading conduct as a protective measure for consumers.