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19-685: The Consumer Council has its own board of directors and statutes laid down by the Ministry of Children and Equality and is chaired by Director Inger Lise Blyverket. Approximately 80 people work at the Consumer Council's office in Oslo. The Consumer Council helps put consumer questions on the agenda and promote consumers' interests by influencing authorities, organisations, and businesses; educating consumers through information, advice, and guidance; and helping individual consumers. The Consumer policy department runs

38-477: A forum of US and EU consumer organisations. BEUC is also active in empowering the consumer movement in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe (CESEE countries) carrying out several initiatives. Consumers International Consumers International is the membership organization for consumer groups around the world. Founded on 1 April 1960, it has over 250 member organizations in 120 countries. Its head office

57-684: A result of consuming bottle-fed formula milk. After intense campaigning by IBFAN, including organizing consumer boycotts against the likes of Nestlé, whose subtle yet effective campaigns were undermining breastfeeding, the World Health Assembly of the World Health Organization, adopted the International Code of Marketing on Breast Milk Substitutes the first such code designed to control widespread marketing abuses by baby food companies. In 1981, Consumers International co-founded

76-566: A year at the general assembly and at several experts’ meetings. Additionally, BEUC has been watching closely the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations since their start in June 2013, safeguarding consumer interests in Europe. 'The consumer view on TTIP' is a blog signed by BEUC's Director General, Monique Goyens and examines the possible effects that a trade deal between

95-422: Is an annual occasion for celebration and solidarity within the international consumer movement. Participants observe the day by promoting the basic rights of all consumers , demanding that those rights are respected and protected, and protesting about the market abuses and social injustices which undermine them. World Consumer Rights Day is celebrated on 15 March every year. Consumers International works with

114-596: Is situated in London , England, and has numerous regional offices in Latin America , Asia Pacific , Middle East and Africa . Consumers International is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee . The organization was first established in the year 1960 as the International organization of Consumers Unions (IOCU) by National consumer organizations who wanted to create cross-border campaigns and share knowledge. IOCU

133-564: The Australian Consumers' Association joined the three conference sponsors as the five founding organizations who became the international organization's initial council. In 1979, IOCU (which then became Consumers International) and other citizens' groups formed the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) to eradicate the death and disease affecting millions of babies in economically developing countries as

152-643: The Health Action International (HAI), an informal network of some 120 consumer and public interest groups, HAI engaged in worldwide campaigns for the safe, rational and economic use of pharmaceuticals. At the 41st World Health Assembly in 1987, HAI organised a large lobby of delegates to urge stronger controls on advertising by the drugs industry. Consumers International has over 250 member organizations in 120 countries. These members are independent consumer organizations. About two-thirds of member organizations are in economically developing countries ,

171-484: The Consumer Council's work to influence governmental and business life in a consumer-friendly direction through dialogue, impact work and publications. The policy work is aimed at areas that have a high economic impact for consumers, where consumer satisfaction is low, and potentially could to affect all sectors. In some cases, existing regulations are not enough, and the Consumer Council is therefore working politically to strengthen legal consumer protection. In other cases,

190-545: The EU and US might have on consumers. In 2012, BEUC celebrated its 50th anniversary. Some of the organisation's achievements in consumer-related areas include cross-border bank payments, GMO labelling and personal data protection . At the international level, BEUC is a member of Consumers International , the global federation of consumer groups. It is also active in the Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue ( TACD ),

209-561: The EU funding represented 43% of the operational BEUC budget. BEUC has subscribed to the European Union ’s Transparency Register. BEUC was created on 6 March 1962 by consumer organisations of Belgium, Luxembourg, France, the Netherlands, Italy and Germany. After working together for a number of years, these organisations decided to create a European association, based in Brussels. BEUC

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228-645: The Norwegian Consumer Council for assistance. BEUC The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC ( / b ɜː k / ), from the French name Bureau Européen des Unions de Consommateurs , "European Bureau of Consumers' Unions") is an umbrella consumers' group, founded in 1962. Based in Brussels , Belgium , it brings together 45 European consumer organisations from 32 countries ( EU , EEA and applicant countries). BEUC represents its members and defends

247-563: The interests of consumers in the decision process of the Institutions of the European Union , acting as the "consumer voice in Europe". BEUC does not deal with consumers’ complaints as it is the role of its national member organisations. The organisation is funded by an EU grant, its member fees and other specific projects (see "External links"). In 2010, the operational budget of BEUC amounted to €2.9m. In 2012, it reached €3,160,000. In 2012,

266-507: The largest economic group, affecting and affected by almost every public and private economic decision. Yet they are the only important group… whose views are often not heard. Consumer rights activist Anwar Fazal working for Consumers International at the time, later proposed the observance of a 'World Consumer Rights Day' marking that date, and on 15 March 1983 consumer organizations started observing that date as an occasion to promote basic rights of consumers. World Consumer Rights Day

285-621: The other third in industrialised countries . Consumers International also works with and hosts the Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD) a forum of US and EU consumer organizations that develops and agrees on consumer policy recommendations to the US government and European Union to promote the consumer interest in EU and US policy making – at its office in London. On 15 March 1962 former US President John F. Kennedy with Consumer Bill of Rights said: Consumers by definition include us all. They are

304-576: The request of Colston Warne to help fund the event. In January 1960, these three organizations sponsored the First International Conference on Consumer Testing in The Hague . Thirty-four people representing seventeen consumer organizations in fourteen countries attended to discuss product testing and founding the International organization of Consumers Unions as an international organization. Belgium 's Association des Consommateurs and

323-414: The work is about affecting the competitive situation and how markets operate. The Consumer Council also has an extensive international cooperation with sister organizations in Europe, and especially with the umbrella organization in Brussels; BEUC . The priority policy areas of the Consumer Council are sustainability, digital services, and economic exclusion. Each year, 50 000 consumers directly contact

342-468: Was founded by Elizabeth Schadee, who would later chair the board of the Netherlands' Consumentenbond , and Caspar Brook, who was the first director of the United Kingdom's Consumers' Association . The two proposed an international conference to plan for consumer product testing organizations worldwide to work more closely together. The United States organization Consumers Union provided US$ 10,000 at

361-552: Was one of the first lobbying organisations to set up base in the European capital in a bid to influence the decision-making process. Many others followed, and the number of lobbyists rose exponentially to the present-day figure of over 15,000. The organisation’s work is divided into 8 priority areas: consumer rights and enforcement , digital rights , energy , financial services , food , health , safety & sustainability . Its priorities are defined by BEUC members who meet twice

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