The Centre for the Arbitration of Consumer Disputes of the Autonomous Region of Madeira (CACC RAM), an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) body for consumer disputes pursuant to Articles 5 and 16 of Law No. 144/2015, of 8 September, which transposed Directive 2013/11/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on ADR, establishing the legal framework for out-of-court consumer dispute resolution mechanisms (hereinafter the ADR Law). The CACC RAM, under the supervision of the Regional Secretariat for Inclusion, Labour and Youth, was established by Regional Legislative Decree No. 14/2004/M of 14 July, and authorised by Order No. 21401/2005 of 20 September, published in the Official Gazette, Series II, No. 196, of 12 October, by the Ministry of Justice.

The CACC RAM is the regional public body responsible for resolving consumer disputes arising from the purchase of goods and services, within its sphere of competence, through extrajudicial means such as conciliation and arbitration.

The CACC RAM is governed by the general rules and principles of Voluntary and Compulsory Arbitration, as set out in Law No. 63/2011 of 14 December, and Law No. 63/2019 of 16 August, as well as its Internal Regulations (Ministerial Order No. 28/2006 of 17 March).

The jurisdiction of the CACC RAM covers consumer disputes relating to the purchase of goods or services whose value does not exceed the limit set by the Court of Appeal, up to €30,000.00.
The CACC RAM also has jurisdiction over the resolution of online disputes, cooperating with the network of ADR bodies in the resolution of cross-border disputes, in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 524/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2013.

The Arbitral Tribunal consists of a single arbitrator (a judge appointed by the Superior Council of the Judiciary), who normally decides in accordance with statutory law, applying equity where necessary and where authorised by the parties.