Since 2011, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has organized the International Consumer Protection Forum for Latin America, which has become one of the region’s leading public platforms for dialogue on consumer protection. The Forum brings together government authorities, consumer organizations, businesses, academia, international organizations and other relevant stakeholders to exchange experiences and discuss current and emerging challenges affecting consumer welfare.
The fifteenth edition of the Forum will be dedicated to consumer product safety. Particular emphasis will be placed on moving from international commitments to their practical implementation, taking as reference the United Nations Principles for Consumer Product Safety and the Handbook developed to support their implementation.
The Forum will focus on how to translate the Principles into concrete action. Drawing on the UNCTAD Handbook and national and regional experiences, discussions will address issues such as the definition of institutional responsibilities, risk identification and management, the use of data and alert systems, market surveillance, recalls and other corrective measures, the responsibilities of businesses and digital platforms, cooperation between authorities and businesses, and the strengthening of regional cooperation on product safety.
In this way, the fifteenth Forum will continue the tradition of regional cooperation and exchange established through previous editions, providing a space to share experiences, identify practical solutions and strengthen the capacities needed to effectively protect consumers in increasingly interconnected physical and digital markets.
