Voices for Change: the Consumer Right to Representation

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52 World Consumer Rights Day 2002: Voices for Change discussion at the meeting itself, leaving us badly positioned to argue effectively on behalf of consumers.” Contact person: Nestor Bikorimana E-mail: abuco@cbinf.com Caribbean: Government consumer bureau seek NGO allies To encourage the formation of independent consumer groups, St. Lucia’s Department of Consumer Affairs recently conducted a series of public meetings and consultations in coordination with Consumers International. The product of these meetings was the creation of a non-governmental body that will take on responsibility for advocacy on behalf of local consumers. The Consumer NGO is now functioning through a Steering Committee. The Department of Consumer Affairs also sought guarantees from the Attorney General that independent consumer associations will be afforded due recognition under St. Lucia’s proposed consumer legislation, through provisions incorporated into the Consumer Protection Bill to be presented to Parliament. The general public is aware of both the existence of the governmental office and the fledging NGO group, writes Philip McClauren, director of the governmental bureau. Contact person: Philip McClauren E-mail: mitandt@candw.lc In Trinidad and Tobago, too, consumer interests are represented mainly by the governmental Consumer Affairs Division. “One major disadvantage of a government consumer agency is the perception that it is not interested primarily in the interests of consumers,” writes Wendy Williams, its director. “We have been able to achieve some measure of representation for consumers by conducting public consultations and including consumer views on consumerrelated government policy. The government office encourages communities to form consumer groups, although it is unable to offer them resources.“ The absence of a strong consumer movement limits the participation of consumers in the policy- making process on matters that affect them, Williams notes. Contact person: Wendy Williams E-mail: consumer@trinidad.net Hong Kong: Broader definition of ethical behaviour “A complaint of unethical conduct was made by a patient whose doctor had used a mobile phone for personal business while conducting a surgical procedure in an operating theatre,” writes Pamela Chan, of the Hong Kong Consumer Council (HKCC). These types of complaints are currently heard by a commission of doctors, who apply narrow professional criteria to the definition of disgraceful, unethical or dishonourable conduct. The HKCC is lobbying legislators for better consumer representation on the complaints-handling body, not only in terms of the individuals sitting on the commission, but for greater participation of stakeholders in the wording of relevant texts. Contact person: Pamela Chan E-mail: cc@consumer.org.hk India: Presenting alternative models for input on drugs A recent example of the need for consumer representation occurred in June 2001, when Consumer Education & Research Society (CERS) appealed to the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) after several brands of aspirin disappeared from the market following governmentmandated price cuts. While urging the NPPA to intervene, CERS also urged manufacturers to keep supply lines open, “even if it means, temporarily, selling with small profit margins.” Aspirin is back on the market, but parallel attempts are being made to substitute aspirin for paracetamol in pain-killer formulations without educating consumers. Brand names are confusing and consumers are likely to be misinformed, to the detriment of heart patients, who need aspirin, not paracetamol. To resolve these and other problems regarding drug pricing and access, CERS is seeking
World Consumer Rights Day 2002: Voices for Change consumer representation on the Drugs Technical Advisory Board and the Drug Consultative Committee. CERS also seeks representation before the NPPA which, it claims, is an ineffectual regulatory agency that has allowed “pharmaceutical companies and retailers to enrich themselves at the expense of consumers and their safety.” One of the strategies CERS is employing to present its appeal to the Indian government is to collect background material on the working of similar bodies in other countries, particularly in the United States and Europe, as examples of mechanisms for representation of consumer interests on similar technical committees elsewhere. Contact person: Manubhai Shah E-mail: cerc@wilnetonline.net Malaysia: “No significant change” in law on housing abuses Consultations with its members by the Selangor and Federal Territory Consumers’ Association (SFTCA) found that inadequate consumer protection from abuses in the building industry headed the list of their concerns. Abuses ranged from poor quality material and workmanship and abandoned projects, to breach of terms in sales and purchase agreements and conditions of delivery for which consumers had redress only through the courts. SFTCA campaigned in the media and lobbied government with reports and papers. As a result, it was invited to join the committee debating amendments to the existing law, along with a range of industry interests, government agencies and other consumer groups. The law has now been amended. But the changes are insignificant: a house buyers’ court can hear claims, but these are limited to small awards only. The major issue of the standard sales and purchase agreement, on which the committee spent the bulk of its 100-plus hours of debate, remains unsatisfactory. Contact person: M. Soosai Raj E-mail: ppsdwp@po.jaring.my Norway: No say at research council means no consumer research The Scientific Research Council decides funding of scientific research in Norway. Representation is dominated by big industry NGOs (like the Industry and Manufacturers Association), trade unions and a few others. Because consumer affairs are not considered important enough in political circles, the consumer sector has no representation before this Council. As a result, there are no programmes for consumer research. Consumer representation on this body could lead to more consumer-relevant research programmes in the future. “We have turned to our ministry and asked for representation, but in vain. Maybe we have not made enough noise,” says Finn Aas of Forbrukerradet. Contact person: Finn T. Aas E-mail: Finn.aas@forbrukerradet.no Romania: Seat sought, seat granted The Association for Consumer Protection wants to represent consumer views on Romania’s Economic and Social Council, which advises on draft legislation. “In Romania, social dialogue generally involves just three sectors: government, business and trade unions. The government regards the consumer interest as sufficiently represented by the state body in charge of market inspections, “ writes Emil Bojin. In the area of food safety, however, it appears that the APC may have won its appeal for a seat on the National Codex Committee, although “details are still uncertain ... [and] officials are quite reserved” about clarifying things. Contact person: Emil Bojin E-mail: apc@fx.ro USA: Money opens doors According to Carolyn Cairns of the Consumers Union of US (CU), more than the need to increase representation before any particular body is the need for funding to support staff travel and participation in the policy-making arenas already open to it, if resources were available. Contact person: Carolyn Cairns E-mail: cairca@consumer.org 53
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Voices for Change: the Consumer Right to Representation

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