Abstract
On 9 April 1985 the General Assembly of the United Nations unanimously adopted a set of general guidelines for consumer protection. The Guidelines represent an internationally recognized set of minimum objectives, potentially being of particular assistance to developing countries. The adoption of the Guidelines reinforces the increasing recognition in recent years that consumer policy issues can no longer be seen as being of purely local concern but must be seen in an international context.
After discussing certain objectives and general principles set out, the writer discusses the Guidelines themselves, which cover seven areas: physical safety, promotion and protection of consumers' economic interests, standards for the safety and quality of consumer goods and services, distribution facilities for essential consumer goods and services, measures enabling consumers to obtain redress, education and information programmes, and measures relating to specific areas (food, water, and pharmaceuticals).
The document finally makes a number of recommendations on international co-operation on consumer policy issues. The writer refers to existing mechanisms for such co-operation and makes suggestions for further development.
Zusammenfassung
Die Generalversammlung der Vereinten Nationen stimmte am 9. April 1985 einstimmig einer Reihe von allgemeinen Richtlinien zur Verbraucherpolitik zu. Diese Richtlinien stellen international anerkannte Mindest-Anforderungen dar, die gerade für Entwicklungsländer von besonderer Bedeutung sein dürften. Die Annahme der Richtlinien trägt mit dazu bei, daß verbraucherpolitische Fragen nicht länger mehr nur aus lokaler oder nationaler Sicht, sondern auch im internationalen Zusammenhang gesehen werden.
Nach der Diskussion einzelner Ziele und genereller Prinzipien behandelt der Beitrag die eigentlichen Richtlinien, die sieben Bereiche abdecken: Gesundheitliche Sicherheit, Schutz und Förderung des Verbraucherinteresses, Sicherheits- und Qualitätsstandards für Güter und Dienstleistungen, Vertrieb und Verfügbarkeit von lebenswichtigen Gütern und Dienstleistungen, Entschädigungsmöglichkeiten für Verbraucher, Verbrauchererziehung und -information sowie Maßnahmen für bestimmte Bereiche wie z.B. Lebensmittel, Wasser oder Arzneimittel.
Schließlich macht der Beitrag einige Empfehlungen für die internationale verbraucherpolitische Zusammenarbeit und bezieht sich dabei auf bereits bestehende Kooperationswege, die weiterentwickelt werden sollten.
Der Verfasser sieht in der einstimmigen Annahme der Richtlinien einen bedeutenden Schritt. Sie dienen seiner Ansicht nach als wichtiger Ausgangspunkt für eine umfassende internationale Verbraucherpolitik, aber auch als Rahmen, innerhalb dessen bestehende politische Maßnahmen bewertet werden können.
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Additional information
David Harland is Professor of Law in the University of Sydney (University of Sydney Law School, 173–175 Phillip Street, Sydney, N.S.W. 2000, Australia).
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Harland, D. The United Nations guidelines for consumer protection. Journal of Consumer Policy 10, 245–266 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00411533
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00411533