OECD, safety, and the consumer

Abstract

The paper contains a survey of the legal approach taken to protect consumers from unsafe products in OECD member countries during the last decade. The legal approach covers measures such as preparatory, regulatory, monitoring and corrective actions. An important part in the international work to increase product safety efforts is played by the OECD Committee on Consumer Policy. The paper points out that the Committee's working party on product safety has since 1972 produced a considerable number of reports and proposals which have led to Council Recommendations. It seems that many of these have contributed to the development of safety measures in some countries. The author concludes that international cooperation in the field of consumer policy is an indispensable element for increasing the protection of consumers, the maintenance of open international trading systems, and the functioning of markets at the national and international level.