Ad Hoc Expert Meeting on Consumer Protection: Product Safety

The Eight United Nations Conference to Review All Aspects of the Set of Multilaterally Agreed Equitable Principles and Rules for the Control of Restrictive Business Practices will be held under the auspices of UNCTAD from 19 to 23 October 2020.

For the first time, the Conference will review the work of the Intergovernmental group of experts on consumer protection law and policy and consider issues directly related to consumer protection, as mandated by the General Assembly in 2015.[1]

The fourth session of the Intergovernmental group of experts on consumer protection law and policy, held on 8 and 9 July 2019, decided to renew the mandate of the Working Group on Consumer Product Safety to recommend policy options for addressing challenges faced by consumer protection authorities in this area, and to report on its continued work to the Eighth United Nations Conference to Review All Aspects of the Set.[2]

The Working Group is aiming to produce a recommendation on “Preventing International Trade in Unsafe and Hazardous Consumer Products,” that could be considered by the Conference and included in its outcome resolution. In order to facilitate consultations, discussions and exchange of views, this Ad Hoc Expert Meeting on Consumer Protection/Product Safety will discuss this issue and thus serve as a preparatory meeting for the Conference.

[1] A/RES/70/186

[2] TD/B/C.I/CPLP/20