United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection
Encyclopedia
The United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection is a declaration of best practices in consumer protection law and policy. The Guidelines are not binding, but do provide a set of basic consumer protection objectives upon which governments have agreed, thereby serving as a policy framework for implementation at a national level. Whilst directed primarily at governments, some provisions of the Guidelines are also directed at businesses.
: the right to safety, the right to be informed, the right to choose and the right to be heard.
In 1981, the United Nations Economic and Social Council
"requested the Secretary-General to continue consultations on consumer protection with a view to elaborating a set of general guidelines for consumer protection, taking particularly into account the needs of the developing countries".
In 1983, draft guidelines for consumer protection were submitted to ECOSOC in response to its request. Following extensive discussions and negotiations, the Guidelines were adopted by consensus resolution of the United Nations General Assembly
on 9 April 1985. They have since been amended by the addition of a new section on sustainable consumption on 26 July 1999.
(UNCTAD), which is the subsidiary body of the UN General Assembly that holds responsibility for consumer protection and competition policy, states that the Guidelines "take into account the interests and needs of consumers, particularly those in developing countries." A 1993 report on progress in implementation of the Guidelines by the UN Secretary-General noted that most governments who responded "reported that the guidelines had had a significant impact on their work" on consumer policy.
The reception of the Guidelines within the consumer movement
has been positive. One consumer advocate has described them as having "made a major contribution to the advancement of the position of consumers around the world." The eight sections of the Guidelines have also been restated as eight consumer rights by the NGO Consumers International
, expanding upon those recognised by President Kennedy.
On the other hand, at the time of their negotiation the Guidelines were opposed by certain business interests and developed countries as paternalistic, and they have since been criticised as vague, overblown and unnecessary.
.
History
The earliest known statement of consumer rights at a political level was given on 16 March 1962, when President John F Kennedy of the United States delivered a speech to Congress in which he outlined four consumer rightsConsumer Bill of Rights
Before the mid-twentieth century, consumers were without rights with regard to their interaction with products and commercial producers. Consumers had little ground on which to defend themselves against faulty or defective products, or against misleading or deceptive advertising methods.By the...
: the right to safety, the right to be informed, the right to choose and the right to be heard.
In 1981, the United Nations Economic and Social Council
United Nations Economic and Social Council
The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations constitutes one of the six principal organs of the United Nations and it is responsible for the coordination of the economic, social and related work of 14 UN specialized agencies, its functional commissions and five regional commissions...
"requested the Secretary-General to continue consultations on consumer protection with a view to elaborating a set of general guidelines for consumer protection, taking particularly into account the needs of the developing countries".
In 1983, draft guidelines for consumer protection were submitted to ECOSOC in response to its request. Following extensive discussions and negotiations, the Guidelines were adopted by consensus resolution of the United Nations General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
on 9 April 1985. They have since been amended by the addition of a new section on sustainable consumption on 26 July 1999.
Structure
The Guidelines originally covered seven areas: physical safety, promotion and protection of consumers' economic interests, standards for the safety and quality of consumer goods and services, distribution facilities for essential consumer goods and services, measures enabling consumers to obtain redress, education and information programmes, and measures relating to specific areas (food, water, and pharmaceuticals). With their amendment in 1999, an eighth area, promotion of sustainable consumption, was added.Reaction
The United Nations Conference on Trade and DevelopmentUnited Nations Conference on Trade and Development
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development was established in 1964 as a permanent intergovernmental body. It is the principal organ of the United Nations General Assembly dealing with trade, investment, and development issues....
(UNCTAD), which is the subsidiary body of the UN General Assembly that holds responsibility for consumer protection and competition policy, states that the Guidelines "take into account the interests and needs of consumers, particularly those in developing countries." A 1993 report on progress in implementation of the Guidelines by the UN Secretary-General noted that most governments who responded "reported that the guidelines had had a significant impact on their work" on consumer policy.
The reception of the Guidelines within the consumer movement
Consumer activism
Consumer activism is activism undertaken on behalf of consumers, to assert consumer rights.-Objectives and tactics:Goals include making goods and services available to consumers safer, better quality, environmentally friendly, and more readily available....
has been positive. One consumer advocate has described them as having "made a major contribution to the advancement of the position of consumers around the world." The eight sections of the Guidelines have also been restated as eight consumer rights by the NGO Consumers International
Consumers International
Consumers International is the world federation of consumer groups that serves as the only independent and authoritative global voice for consumers...
, expanding upon those recognised by President Kennedy.
On the other hand, at the time of their negotiation the Guidelines were opposed by certain business interests and developed countries as paternalistic, and they have since been criticised as vague, overblown and unnecessary.
Future
In 2011, Consumers International, which was involved in preparatory work for the original guidelines and the sustainable consumption amendments, developed a suggested set of further amendments to the Guidelines covering the topic of access to knowledgeAccess to knowledge
The Access to Knowledge movement is a loose collection of civil society groups, governments, and individuals converging on the idea that access to knowledge should be linked to fundamental principles of justice, freedom, and economic development....
.
See also
- Consumer activismConsumer activismConsumer activism is activism undertaken on behalf of consumers, to assert consumer rights.-Objectives and tactics:Goals include making goods and services available to consumers safer, better quality, environmentally friendly, and more readily available....
- Consumer protectionConsumer protectionConsumer protection laws designed to ensure fair trade competition and the free flow of truthful information in the marketplace. The laws are designed to prevent businesses that engage in fraud or specified unfair practices from gaining an advantage over competitors and may provide additional...
- United Nations General AssemblyUnited Nations General AssemblyFor two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...