BEUC NEWS - 11.10.2024

This week, BEUC Director General Agustín Reyna joined Consumers International's delegation at the first-ever OECD Consumer Policy Ministerial Meeting. Policymakers discussed how they can better protect consumers in the green and digital transition, with a focus on safety of products.  Agustín’s emphasised the need to strengthen the collaboration between authorities and consumer organisations to achieve those goals.

The meeting led to the adoption of the Declaration on Protecting and Empowering Consumers in the Digital and Green Transitions. This is a significant step towards governments of the OECD members recognising the pivotal role consumer policy plays in ensuring a fair and sustainable future. Key commitments in the Declaration set the stage for stronger consumer protections worldwide:

• Tackling consumer harms in digital markets: As the digital world continues to evolve, so do the risks consumers face. The Declaration emphasises the need for swift action to address existing and emerging harms. This comes at a critical time, aligning with the European Commission’s recent Digital Fairness Fitness Check, which highlighted the growing imbalance of power between consumers and businesses. Consumers are increasingly vulnerable to manipulation, and action is needed to bridge that gap.
• Fighting misleading environmental claims: Consumers eager to make greener choices are often overwhelmed by confusing or deceptive green claims. The Declaration calls for international action to crack down on misleading environmental labels, benefiting both consumers and businesses that prioritise sustainability. By clearing up the confusion, it creates a fairer marketplace for honest companies and encourages more sustainable business practices.
• Boosting product safety in the global marketplace: From smartphones to household goods, consumers rely on global trade for many of their daily purchases. However, unsafe products are still too easily available, particularly online. The Declaration highlights the importance of holding online marketplaces accountable for the safety of products sold on their platforms. Effective international cooperation is essential to ensuring that unsafe products are swiftly removed and kept off the market.

Looking ahead, BEUC encourages that the OECD will continue to prioritise consumer protection in future Ministerial meetings and calls on OECD members to translate those words into actions. Global cooperation is essential to safeguarding consumers in a rapidly changing world.