Introduction

In resolution 70/186 of 22 December 2015 on consumer protection, the General Assembly of the United Nations reaffirmed the United Nations guidelines for consumer protection as a valuable set of principles for setting out the main characteristics of effective consumer protection legislation, enforcement institutions and redress systems and for assisting interested Member States in formulating and enforcing domestic and regional laws, rules and regulations that are suited to their own economic and social and environmental circumstances. The guidelines promote international enforcement cooperation among Member States and encourage the sharing of experiences in consumer protection. The General Assembly also decided to establish an intergovernmental group of experts on consumer protection law and policy under the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to provide the international institutional machinery for the guidelines. One of the mandates of this Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Consumer Protection Law and Policy is to conduct voluntary peer reviews of the national consumer protection policies of Member States, as implemented by consumer protection authorities. At its second session, the Group discussed the framework for such reviews and encouraged Member States to volunteer for them.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Decent Work and Economic Growth

Reduced Inequalities