Lok Sabha Question No. 2212 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-31
Subject: Inter-Governmental Group of Expert on Consumer Protection
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: ANANDRAO  ADSUL, PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE

## Government of India Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

## Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2212

TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2018

INTER-GOVERNMENTAL GROUP OF EXPERT ON CONSUMER PROTECTION

2212.   SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL: DR. PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE: SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO: SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT: DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

## Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  United  Nations  Conference  on  Trade  and  Development  (UNCTAD)  is  the  UN body looking after consumer issues;
- (b) if so, whether the inter-Governmental group of experts on consumer protection was set up by the Union Government under the revised UN Guidelines on Consumer Protection;
- (c) if  so,  the  number  of  meetings  of  inter-Governmental  group  of  experts  on  consumer protection held so far and the outcome of these meetings;
- (d) whether  India  has  participated  in  the  two-day  session  which  was  held  in  Geneva  on consumer  protection  in  financial  services,  capacity  building  and  technical  assistance  on consumer protection law, dispute resolution and redress recently, if so, the details thereof and the issues discussed therein along with the outcome thereof; and
- (e) the manner in which this will be beneficial for the country?

## ANSWER

miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h ¼Jh lh- vkj- pkS/kjh½

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

- (a) :    UNCTAD  (United  Nations  Conference  on  Trade  and  Development)  is  a  permanent intergovernmental body established by the United Nations General Assembly. It helps countries among other things, to protect consumers from abuse.
- (b) :  The Intergovernmental Group of Experts (IGE) on consumer Protection Law and Policy was set up under the revised United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection.

(c) :      Three meetings of Inter-governmental Group of Experts on consumer protection have  been  held  so  far.  The  IGE  monitors  the  implementation  of  UN  Guidelines  by  Member States, provides technical assistance, undertakes voluntary peer reviews and periodically update the  (UNGCP)  United  Nations  Guidelines  on  Consumer  Protection.  The  meetings  attended  by India helped the international community to take note of the steps taken by India for the welfare of  vulnerable  group  of  consumers,  consumer  protection  in  e  commerce,  financial  literacy  and capacity building of civil society organizations.

(d) & (e) : Yes, Madam. The meetings help in understanding the international best practices on various  aspects  of  consumer  protection  such  as,  alternate  dispute  resolution  of  consumer complaints, cross border consumer issues, regional cooperation and consumer product safety.

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