Ad hoc Expert Meeting on Consumer Product Safety

The Ninth United Nations Conference to Review All Aspects of the Set of Multilaterally Agreed Equitable Principles and Rules for the Control of Restrictive Business Practices (the UN Review Conference), will take place from 7 to 11 July 2025 under the auspices of the UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), in the Palais des Nations, Geneva Switzerland.

 The UN Review Conference, held at the Ministerial level, is mandated every five years by the United Nations General Assembly to discuss the issues of competition and consumer protection laws and policies.

 In preparation for this meeting, particular attention is being directed towards consumer product safety. The United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection recognize consumers’ right of to access non-hazardous products and reaffirm that one of consumers’ legitimate needs is protection from hazards to their health and safety. This priority is increasingly pertinent in the context of deepening international and digital consumer markets.

 The Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Consumer Protection Law and Policy, at its eighth session of July 2024, underscored the pivotal role of consumer protection in contributing to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Consumer protection ensures access to essential goods and services and protects individuals from fraudulent practices and unsafe products while empowering them through education and information. The eighth session further acknowledged the central role of UNCTAD as the focal point within the United Nations system for consumer protection. UNCTAD continues facilitating discussions on critical issues, including consumer product safety, sustainable consumption, e-commerce, and online dispute resolution.

 Since 2019, UNCTAD’s informal working group on consumer product safety has been enhancing consumer product safety at both regional and national levels while promoting international collaboration to protect consumers from safety hazards. The current mandate of the working group received from the IGE is, among other initiatives, to pursue consultations to develop a resolution on general consumer product safety.

 As part of the preparatory process for the 2025 UN Review Conference, the Ad Hoc Expert Meeting on Consumer Product Safety will provide a platform for in-depth discussions on the draft resolution on consumer product safety This draft resolution outlines a comprehensive framework designed to strengthen consumer protection against unsafe products and foster global cooperation on product safety. Developed by the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Consumer Protection Law and Policy under UNCTAD’s leadership, it builds upon the United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection (Resolution 70/186) and the Recommendation on Preventing Cross-Border Distribution of Known Unsafe Consumer Products.  The resolution highlights the shared responsibility of businesses, governments, and international bodies to ensure product safety across both traditional and digital marketplaces. The meeting will also explore institutional mechanisms to support the effective implementation of this draft resolution.

The conclusions and recommendations from the Ad Hoc Expert Meeting will guide further consultations in preparation for the UN Review Conference.

Participation

This meeting is open to all member States of UN Trade and Development. Other organizations, including specialized agencies, intergovernmental bodies and non-governmental organizations in the general category may participate as observers.

Registration

Online registration is mandatory for all those wishing to attend the meeting and is required for inclusion in the list of participants.

Logistics

The session will be held with physical participation in room XIX of the Palais des Nations. Remote interventions will be possible. The link to online participation will be sent to registered participants, at the email address used for registration, one day in advance of the start of the meeting.