Lack of laws or difficulties in their enforcement gives an incentive to the 'black ships' on the market. Some companies are then tempted to unfair commercial pracitices, which affect consumer welfare. Consumers should be thus provided with adequate instruments and information in the decision-making process. The OECD Committee on Consumer Policy guides its Member economies in the development of policies and use of legal and non-legal instruments aimed at promoting consumer interest.
Key issues:
Dispute resolution and redress | Awareness and education | Product safety
Fostering the development of effective, low cost ways for consumers to resolve their disputes and obtain monetary compensation is a key consumer policy objective. Currently, consumers are facing difficulties in enforcing their rights. This is particularly true in the cross-border context, where the obstacles to receiving resolution and redress are even greater.The OECD Committee on Consumer Policy has been working on dispute resolution and redress for a number of years.
Recommendation on Consumer Dispute Resolution and Redress
Implementation of the 2003 OECD Guidelines for Protecting Consumers from Fraud
Consumer Dispute Resolution and Redress in the Global Marketplace
Consumer Dispute Resolution and Redress in the Global Marketplace
Guidelines for Protecting Consumers from Fraudulent and Deceptive Commercial Practices Across Borders (2003)
Consumers today are challenged by growing amounts of information and wider choices of products. To make good choices in increasingly complex markets, they must become aware of their rights and obligations on the marketplace. The OECD Committee on Consumer Policy is, thus, examining consumer policies and developing guidances and recommendations towards improved consumer awareness.
Consumer Policy Toolkit Workshop: Communication Services
Enhancing the value and effectiveness of environmental claims: promoting and empowering consumers
Consumer Education: Policy Recommendations of the OECD's Committee on Consumer Policy
Promoting consumer education: Trends, Policies and good Practices
Joint Conference on Consumer Education
The Interface between Competition and Consumer Policies
Roundtable on Economics for Consumer Policy
Roundtable on Demand-Side Economics for Consumer Policy
Report on OECD Member Countries’ Approaches to Consumer Contracts
The importance of accurate and available WHOIS data
Health and consumer safety are at the heart of consumer policy. The increasing number of unsafe products, particulary for children, requires rigorous legislation and better enforcement. This is especially prominent for the more sophisticated products of which parts are produced and traded globally. Therefore, the OECD Committee on Consumer Policy renewed its work on this emerging issue.
Better information sharing on product issues will enhance consumer safety
Enhancing information sharing on consumer product safety
Roundtable on consumer product safety
Analytical report on consumer product safety
Compliance of the responses to the 2008 Questionnaire
Decision-Recommendation on the OECD Notification System on Consumer Safety Measures
Related Documents