At this week's WTO Public Forum on e-commerce in Geneva, Consumers International, the umbrella organization of consumer associations worldwide, together with its German member organization vzbv presented its Consumer Checklist for international e-commerce deals.
On the notion that future e-commerce growth depends largely on consumer trust, especially regarding international purchases online, this proposal calls for new negotiations for an international e-commerce deal that advocate consumer benefit and protection.
These are the proposal's main points:
-
Consumer chapter: Any international agreement on e-commerce should include a chapter on consumer issues to ensure consumer protection and roll-out benefits.
-
Five principles: The consumer chapter itself encompasses the five principles of access and inclusion, informed choice, effective protection, product safety as well as data protection – all of which trade partners should follow.
-
International cooperation: The consumer chapter is to encourage regulators and enforcement agencies from different countries to co-operate through existing international organizations and networks – among others the UN or the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN).
-
Transparent negotiations: Negotiations on future e-commerce deals should be transparent encouraging multi-stakeholder dialogues both on a national and international level. The object of negotiation should be clear for consumer organizations so that they are informed and can participate in the process.
On the five consumer principles:
-
Access and inclusion: The needs of vulnerable consumers groups and consumers with disabilities should be acknowledged in website design and payments or delivery procedures.
-
Informed choice: Consumers need clear, accurate and easily accessible information about what they purchase online.
-
Effective protection: Consumers must be treated fairly and guaranteed the same level of protection as in any other branch of commerce. For instance, consumers must be able to explicitly agree to a purchase and receive a receipt.
-
Product safety: Products that pose a risk to health and safety should not be sold – neither online nor offline.
-
Data protection: Consumers should have full control over their personal data – in terms of data collection, usage or transfer.
Source: Consumers International
More information, BEUC press statement and the Consumer Checklist