Revision of UN Guidelines on Consumer Protection

(UNGCP)

Content

• The Review Process

• Modalities to review the UNGCP

• Outcome of the Working Groups: UNCTAD Secretariat Report

VI UN Conference to Review the Set (2010)Competition Consumer Protection

VI UN Conference to Review the Set (2010)Competition Consumer Protection

VII UN Conference to Review the Set (July, 2015)VII UN Conference to Review the Set (July, 2015)

XI IGE (2011)XI IGE (2011) I Ad-hoc Meeting (2012)

I Ad-hoc Meeting (2012)

II Ad-Hoc Meeting (2013)

II Ad-Hoc Meeting (2013)

XII IGE (2012)XII IGE (2012)

XIII IGE(2013)XIII IGE(2013)

IX IGE (2014)Preparatory Session

IX IGE (2014)Preparatory Session

The Review Process

Preparatory meeting

22-23 January 2015

Preparatory meeting

22-23 January 2015

4 WG for the

UNCTAD Secretariat

Report

4 WG for the

UNCTAD Secretariat

Report

Draft Resolution

Draft Resolution

General Assembly, December 2015General Assembly, December 2015

Modalities to review the UNGCP

Options for the Review• Thematic Approach: Review and amendment of each of the

Guidelines of the UNGCP. Implies an individual negotiation for each guideline

• Integral Approach: insertion of new topics (vertical) & adaptation of the remaining Guidelines where necessary (horizontal)

Addressed topicsHorizontal/Integrado Vertical/Temático Addressed in the existing UNGCP?

E-commerce     NoFinancial Services     NoAccess to Knowledge     Partially (3.c and 22-24)

Collective actions     Partially (32-34)

Cross-border trade     Yes (32-34 and/or 63-69)

Data protection     NoAbusive/misleading Advertising     Partially (17, 22-26)

Public Services     YES (31, 56)

Real-Estate Sector     Partially (1)Turism     NoImplementation     Partially (63-69)

Modalities to review the UNGCP

• All the topics identified for the review:

Integral/HorizontalIntegral/Horizontal Thematic/VerticalThematic/Vertical

Modalities to review the UNGCP

• Todos los asuntos identificados para la revisión:

Integral/HorizontalIntegral/Horizontal Thematic/VerticalThematic/Vertical

- E-Commerce-Financial Services-Access to knowledge- Cross-border trade- Data protection-Turism-IMPLEMENTATION

- Collective Actions- Misleading advertising- Public services- Real-estate services

Arquitecture of the Consmer Protection "Temple" for the Century XXI

Dialogue and Inter. CooperationDialogue and Inter. Cooperation

Laws and robust enforcementLaws and robust enforcement

IMPLEMENTATIONIMPLEMENTATION

Next stepts

General Assembly (Dec 2015)

General Assembly (Dec 2015)Review Conference

(July 2015)Review Conference

(July 2015)

Draft Resolution&

Report(November)

Draft Resolution&

Report(November)

Comments

(September 15)

Comments

(September 15)

First UNCTAD Report

(August 15)

First UNCTAD Report

(August 15)

Preparatory Meeting

(22-23 Jan 2015)

Preparatory Meeting

(22-23 Jan 2015)

Outcome of the Working Groups: First UNCTAD Secretariat Report

WG on E-commerce

• First meeting and questionnaire circulation: 3 and 24 March 2014

• 63 Experts at WG:

•Outcome:

• Contributions: 26

• In-depth knowledge of E-commerce situations in MS

• Full suport and endorsement of OCDE E-Commerce Guidelines of 1999 (in its actual wording).

• Interest to include a section in the UNGCP

46 Member States5 International Organisations12 NGOs.

WG on Financial Services

• First meeting and questionnaire circulation: 14 March 2014

• 50 Experts at WG:

•Outcome:

• Contributions: 19

• Full suport and endorsement of G-20/OCDE principles

• Importance to the compensation mechanisms

• Interest to include a section in the UNGCP

12 Member States1 International Organisation3 NGOs.

WG on Other issues

• First meeting and questionnaire circulation: 7 March 2014

• 34 Experts at WG:

•Outcome:

• Contributions: 19

• Interest to include a section in the UNGCP on:

• Misleading, abusive advertising,

• Collective actions,

• Data protection,

• Turism

• Interest to hold discussions for the other issues.

29Member States1 International Organisation4 NGOs.

WG on Implementation

• First meeting and questionnaire circulation: 3 and 24 March 2014

• 36 Experts at WG:

•Outcome:

• Contributions: 12

• Importance to the national and bilateral implementation that does not require new UNGCP

• Interest in set up an international forum to:

• Monitor the universal implementation of UNGCP

• Discuss in public forums policymaking issues

• Propose capacity-building activities for agencies

• Update and review UNGCP periodically

32 Member States4 NGOs.

Many thanks

Hassan QaqayaHead

Competition and Consumer Policies BranchUNCTAD

Hassan.Qaqaya@unctad.org