Clipping of news on Brazilian Culture, Law and Citizenship
04/08/2013
This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.
Consumers International consulted with 70 organizations, among them the Brazilian Idec and Protest
Results integrate document to assist the United Nations (UN) in the revision of the Guidelines for Protection Consumed
RIO - Only half of the 58 countries that have consumer protection agencies heard per survey by Consumers International (CI) has national policies to protect consumers. This is one of the results of the study by CI to assist the United Nations (UN) in the revision of the Guidelines for Consumer Protection. 70 organizations were consulted, including the Brazilians Protest and Idec, between November 2012 and January this year.
Check here for the complete results of the survey.
"The results, summarized in a document (click here to access it in Spanish), provide a detailed overview of the state of consumer protection in the news, and also identify areas that need improvement more urgently," says CI.
According to the survey, the legislation of most countries surveyed recognize the importance of protecting consumers, because in 78% of them there is a general law for the protection of customers for products and services, such as Brazil with the Consumer Protection Code (CDC). However, only half of them have national policies in the area. Brazil has made progress in this direction recently with the announcement by President Dilma Rousseff on March 15 on the establishment of the National Consumption and Citizenship (Plandec) - a package of measures that seek to improve the quality of products and services and encourage links consumption. The study also found that the two measures are linked to the level of income per capita in each country: those with less income are less likely to have them implemented.
And though 91% of countries imposes fines on companies that violate the laws of consumer protection, only 55% of them require the payment of compensation.
For institutional Protest coordinator, Maria Ines Dolci, the research results show that Brazil protects its consumers better compared to most countries consulted. However, to participate in the consultation of CI, the organization sent suggestions to be incorporated by the United Nations in reviewing the guidelines so that they can better respond to consumer concerns: introducing lower taxes for essential services and basic food, more protection for consumers in relation to supply and advertising of products and services for children and the elderly, especially in relation to food and financial services, greater effectiveness and transparency of authorities, agencies and regulators in order to prevent conflict and suppress the actions of suppliers that are contrary to the rights of consumers through the application of administrative penalties with efficiency and speed.
Legitimate needs of consumers
UN guidelines specify a set of requirements that governments should include the development of their consumer protection measures. CI notes that ensure they meet the basic needs of consumers is an essential function for this protection, and that this should be included in the "legitimate needs" of the UN.
Are basic consumer rights:
One. The right to satisfaction of basic needs: access to basic goods and services essential, adequate food, clothing, housing, health care, education, public services, water and sanitation.
2nd. Right to safety: To be protected against products, production processes and services hazardous to health or life.
3rd. Right to information: access data necessary to make choices with guidance and be protected against dishonest and misleading advertising.
4th. Right to choose: to choose between a bunch of products and services offered at competitive prices with the assurance of safety and quality.
5th. Right to be heard: consumer interests should be represented in the implementation of government policies and the development of products and services.
6th. Right to be repaired: receive fair resolutions by just demands, including compensation for goods or unsatisfactory services rendered evil.
7th. Right to education as consumers: to acquire knowledge and skills needed to be informed and make appropriate choices about goods and services, while being aware of basic rights and responsibilities of consumers and how to act on them.
Eight. Right to a healthy environment: live and work in an environment that does not threaten the well-being of present and future generations
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This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.