brief history of the consumer movement

8/10/2019 Brief History of the Consumer Movement

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Table of Content

1. Brief history of the consumer movement

2

2. United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection

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3. Consumers ssociation of Ban!ladesh" #CB$

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4. Consumer &i!hts Protection ct 2''(

)

%. &ecommendation for increasin! consumer a*areness about their

ri!ht +

). &eferences (

1



1. Brief history of the consumer movement

Consumer rights take hold

The frst ever international conerence o leaders rom consumer organizations took

place in The Hague on March 1960. ive o the 1! organizations present signed

papers to create the "nternational #rganization o Consumers $nions %"#C$&. The

glo'al consumer movement (as 'orn.

Consumer 'oom

The increasing num'er o consumer goods on o)er (as accompanied '* rising

(ages across +urope and ,orth -merica. Consumer organizations sprang up to

anal*ze the products provide independent advice and to challenge rogue traders.

Testing

The ollo(ing *ears sa( a stead* e/pansion in testing colla'oration among these

ne( organizations and a (idening o ocus or "#C$. ,e(l* ormed groups (ere

invited to oin rom across the (orld and "#C$s frst glo'al ne(sletter (as

launched.

The developing (orld

Mean(hile at the 'iennial conerences that "#C$ organized leaders spoke o a

(ider consumer agenda and particularl* the need to address povert* access to

'asic goods and services and the challenges aced '* consumers in developing

countries.

2egional o3ces

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"n the earl* 19!0s a regional o3ce (as created in -sia. "ts advisor* committee

came rom "ndia 5ingapore Mala*sia ii and the hilippines a ver* di)erent

stakeholder group rom the ounders o "#C$ itsel.

"ssue7'ased net(orks

-n(ar azal head o the -sia acifc #3ce took "#C$ into ne( (a*s o

campaigning and advocac*.

He targeted transnational corporations (ith specifc campaigns and pla*ed a

leading role in setting up issue7'ased net(orks (ith partners rom outside the

consumer movement including the "nternational 8a'* ood -ction ,et(ork %"8-,&.

These net(orks (ere earl* pioneers o a ne( method o campaigning or ,#s

(hich 'rought together disparate groups on a particular issue or a particular

purpose. "#C$s role in the net(orks made it one o the earl* leaders o theinternational ,# communit*.

$, uidelines on Consumer rotection

These methods and activities 'rought results. -mong them the seminal

international document o the consumer movement 7 the $nited ,ations uidelines

on Consumer rotection 7 (as adopted '* the $, in 19:; ater 10 *ears o

campaigning. This gave important legitimac* to the principles o consumer rights

and practical support or developing national consumer protection legislation.

The need or a glo'al consumer voice

"#C$ pu'lished a <atin -merican ne(sletter through its mem'er organization in

Me/ico rom 19:1 and eventuall* opened a regional o3ce in $rugua* in 19:6.

=ork 'egan in -rica in the late 19:0s leading to the set up o a regional o3ce in

>im'a'(e in 199?.

Capacit* 'uilding

Through the 1990s "#C$ managed e/tensive capacit* 'uilding programs in all partso the (orld training 'oth in methods %such as institutional management research

and undraising& and on specifc issues. Mem'ership num'ers increased to nearl*

4;0 rom around 11; countries. The consumer movement had indeed 'ecome

glo'al.

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=T#

-dvocac* 'egan to ocus on international trade negotiations particularl* those o

the ne(l* ormed =orld Trade #rganization %=T#&. "#C$ also increased its (ork at

the "nternational #rganization or 5tandardization %"5#& and the Code/ -limentarius

Commission %ood standards& as international standards 'ecame the reerence point

or disputes a'out artifcial 'arriers to trade.

These developments in glo'al governance made it increasingl* di3cult or

individual countries to adopt national standards that (ere di)erent rom those

agreed internationall*.

"#C$ 'ecomes Consumers "nternational

8* the late 1990s a much7altered organization (as in place a transition s*m'olized

'* a change o name rom "#C$ to Consumers "nternational %C"& in 199;.

Campaigning and mem'er development (as a particular priorit* in Central and

+astern +urope and in -rica. "n the ormer C" helped create a sustaina'le

consumer presence ver* nearl* rom scratch in countries struggling frst (ith

democrac* and transition to market economies and then (ith the demands o

preparations to oin the +$.

Man* pu'lications appeared in three languages. =orld Congresses (ere held or the

frst time in <atin -merica %Chile 199!& and then -rica %5outh -rica 4000&. -nd

C"s residents came successivel* rom "ndonesia Hong Aong -ustralia 8razil and

Aen*a.

2. United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection

The $nited ,ations uidelines or Consumer rotection %$,C& act as an

international reerence point o the consumer movement 'ut (ith ne(

developments in technolog* and 'usiness practices there is a strong argument or

revising them to ensure the* are still relevant to the challenges acing consumers.

?



The guidelines (ere adopted '* the $, in 19:; ater 10 *ears o campaigning '* C".

The* gave important legitimac* to the principles o consumer rights and practical

support and guidance or developing national consumer protection legislation.

"n 1999 the* (ere updated (ith a ne( section on sustaina'le consumption and

production %section & to reBect environmental concerns emerging during the

1990s.

The guidelines have 'een interpreted '* C" and translated into clear consumer

rights as ollo(s

i. The right to the satisaction o 'asic needsii. The right to saet*iii. The right to 'e inormed

iv. The right to choosev. The right to 'e heardvi. The right to redressvii. The right to consumer educationviii. The right to a health* environment.

3. Consumers ssociation of Ban!ladesh" #CB$

Consumers -ssociation o 8angladesh %C-8& a non7government and non7proft

voluntar* organization (as ounded in 19!: and got its registration (ith the

Department o 5ocial 5ervices in 19:@ and (ith the ,# -)airs 8ureau in 19:6.

5ince its inception C-8 has 'een organizing programmes and activities or

promotion and protection o the rights and interests o the general consumers in the

countr*.

The maor areas o C-8 activities are consumer inormation and education

monitoring o market prices and Eualities o essential commodities and

services complaints handling and providing legal support campaign or promotion

F protection o 'reast eeding price sta'ilit* o essentials anti7to'acco movement

road saet* sae environment sae ood and commodities research and studies on

consumer issues and pro'lems representation and lo''*ing (ith polic* makers

government and non7govt. agencies or enactment o Consumer rotection <a(

%C<& and on various other consumer issues and pro'lems or consumersG

protection.

;



C-8s involvement in Consumer +ducation consists o discussion meetings as (ell

as training programs. The ormer (as conducted according to the various groups

such as teachers students ournalists la(*ers 'usiness leaders religious leaders

(omen leaders trade union leaders house(ives ,# (orkers and social activists.

The ollo(ing are activities '* C-8 on Consumer +ducation

I The ormation o Consumer +ducation Jolunteer roups in ur'an and rural areas.

I Training and orientation o Consumer +ducation roup %C+& mem'ers (ho then

organize group meetings to discuss issues pertaining to consumer rights and

consumers interest.

I Training and orientation programs on consumerism consumer rights and related

issues or ,# (orkers teachers students (omen leaders ournalists social andconsumer activists.

I - national seminar on the role o teachers in the promotion and protection o

consumer rights in the countr* at the ,ational ress Clu' Dhaka on 11 -pril 1996.

8ased on the o'servations and recommendations o the participants C-8 prepared

a proect proposal on Consumer +ducation rogram in primar* and secondar*

schools.

4. Consumer &i!hts Protection ct 2''(

The rotection o consumer rights is no( a glo'al agenda. 8angladesh a third (orld

countr* is struggling to ulfll the 'asic needs o its population. K5ocialism meaning

economic and social usticeL a undamental principle o the state polic* and the

constitution is *et to 'e implemented although ?@ *ears have alread* passed since

its independence.

The Consumer 2ights rotection -ct 4009 provided 'oth civil and criminal

remedies. - consumer is entitled to lodge complain to the Consumer 2ights

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rotection Department or an* violation o the -ct. The Deput* Commissioners o

di)erent districts can e/ercise the same po(er as given to the department. -

consumer although 'arred rom fling a direct complaint to the police station under

the Consumer 2ights rotection -ct 4009 can fle a case to the olice station under

other <a(s.

The <a( on consumer rights not onl* prohi'its adulteration hoarding smuggling

'lack marketing cheating or raud in (eight and measurement or in selling

products (ith higher price 'ut also provides punishments or such acts. -

manuacturer or producer as (ell as a service provider or even in special

circumstances the seller is lia'le or adulterated oods or drugs or o other essential

commodities. The countereit products or stolen goods or adulterated ood or drugs

are also prohi'ited or selling in the market and violation o (hich is punisha'leunder the penal <a(s including death penalt* under the 5pecial o(ers -ct 19!? or

imprisonment or 10 *ears and a fne o Tk.10 lakh under the Drug Control

#rdinances 19:4.

The 8angladeshi la(s provides or the esta'lishment o di)erent organizations to

protect the rights o the consumers including various Courts or Tri'unals such as7

%i& Consumer 2ights rotection Department

%ii& ,ational Consumer 2ights rotection Council%iii& 5pecial Tri'unal

%iv& Mo'ile Court %can (orkN unction under various <a(s "t ma* 'e constituted '* a

special e/ecutive order&

%v& Drug Court

%vi& ood 5pecial Court

%vii& #rdinar* Criminal Courts

%viii& #rdinar* Civil Courts

%i/& Marine Courts%/& 85T"

%/i& Claims Tri'unal etc.

The specifc areas covered '* the consumer rights rotection related statutes in

8angladesh %5aet* in roduct& are

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i. -dulteration o oodii. 5ale o adultered oodiii. -dulteration o drugiv. 5ale o adultered drugv. 5muggling

vi. 8lack7marketing

vii. Countereiting o roductviii. 5ale o date7e/pired producti/. Monopol* 'usiness/. rice hike i f/ed/i. =eight F measurement/ii. Trade Marks/iii. 5tandards o roduct and la'eling/iv. Milk F su'stitute to 'reast7milk

5pecifc areas covered '* the consumer rights rotection related statutes in

8angladesh %ensuring proper service& arei. Medical serviceii. <egal serviceiii. 5ecurit* service or service '* <a( enorcing agenciesiv. Telecommunication servicev. +nerg* 2egulator* service

vi. Transport service that includes7 -ir (ater land i.e. motor vehicles and

rail(a* etc.

%. &ecommendation for increasin! consumer a*areness about theirri!ht

"n toda*s changing market scenario there is an increasing necessit* o empo(ering

the consumers through education and motivation regarding their rights and

responsi'ilities. HeNshe should 'e eEuipped to 'e ull* vigilant so as to 'e a'le to

protect himselNhersel rom an* (rongul act on the part o the sellerNtrader.

5everal steps have 'een taken '* the overnment 'oth at the Central and 5tate

level to(ards generating a(areness among the consumers. iven all such

initiatives it is the responsi'ilit* o the consumer as (ell to keep in mind the

ollo(ing suggestions

urchase products onl* ater their complete scrutin* and not at the cost o

attractive advertisements.

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Aeep check on the (eighing and measuring instruments used '* traders.

-void 'u*ing ruits and vegeta'les rom unh*gienic place.

Check print o M2 on the packet.

Check the Euantit* as per the fgure printed on the packet.

Check the e/pir* date o the product particularl* that o eata'les and

medicines.

-l(a*s collect 'ill at the time o purchase.

Moreover the packaging and appearance o the product should not 'e theguiding actor or consumer purchases. -long (ith cost consideration

consumer must 'e cautious o the Eualit* o the product. Most importantl* it

is the prime responsi'ilit* o a consumer to 'ring to the notice o the

concerned authorities an* violation in their rights.

). &eferenceshttpNN(((.consumersinternational.org httpNN'oi.gov.'dNinde/.phpNcomponentN'usinessla(shttpNN(((.consumer'd.orgNhttpNNunctad.orgNenNagesND"TCNCompetition<a(N$,7uidelines

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http://www.consumersinternational.org/

http://boi.gov.bd/index.php/component/businesslaws

http://www.consumerbd.org/

http://unctad.org/en/Pages/DITC/CompetitionLaw/UN-Guidelines

http://boi.gov.bd/index.php/component/businesslaws

http://www.consumerbd.org/

http://unctad.org/en/Pages/DITC/CompetitionLaw/UN-Guidelines

http://www.consumersinternational.org/

brief history of the consumer movement

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