Voluntary peer reviews in the field of consumer protection are a world novelty. As contained in the UNCTAD note entitled “Framework for voluntary peer reviews on consumer protection”, their purpose is to:
-
Provide an external and independent assessment of the effectiveness of consumer protection law and policy in a given country;
-
Identify the challenges to be addressed and areas to be improved in the legal and institutional frameworks, thereby contributing to enhancing quality, efficiency and consumer protection regimes;
-
Assess the consumer protection awareness of relevant stakeholders and their contributions in this area;
-
Formulate and recommend appropriate measures, designed in consideration of the economic and developmental particularities of each country, to address these challenges;
-
Assist countries in implementing the recommendations by developing a capacity-building project in consultation with the country concerned.
The present report serves as background for the session on the voluntary peer review on consumer protection law and policy of Indonesia, to be held at the Fourth Session of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Consumer Protection Law and Policy on 8 and 9 July 2019 in geneva, Switzerland.
Indonesia is the second Member State to volunteer to undertake the peer review, following Morocco. The interest in participating was expressed by the National Consumer Protection Agency (BPKN), through representatives of the Permanent Mission of Indonesia to the United Nations in Geneva.
The peer review is set against the backdrop of Indonesia’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its national consumer protection system, and the recommendations derived from the peer review are expected to substantiate critical reform initiatives, including a revision of the existing general consumer protection law.
- United Nations, United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection (December 2015) accessed 16 December 2017
- UNCTAD Secretariat, Report of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Consumer Protection Law and Policy on Its Third Session (Trade and Development Commission 2018) TD/B/C.I/CPLP/15
- UNCTAD Secretariat, Framework for Voluntary Peer Reviews on Consumer Protection Law and Policy (2017) TD/B/C.I/CPLP/6
