During its most recent regular
session (October 2016), the Inter-American
Juridical Committee (CJI) approved a resolution
for the international protection of consumers, a
topic that was included on its agenda in 2015,
that recognizes the challenges faced by
consumers in cross-border dealings and the need
for special protection as a consequence,
including access to effective, efficient and
affordable methods of dispute resolution. At the
same time, the resolution acknowledges the
importance of preserving the ability of sellers
and suppliers to compete in the marketplace to
ensure that consumers are provided with a wide
range of products and services appropriate to
their needs and desires, while also ensuring
their health, safety and need for special
protection.
By means of this resolution,
the CJI calls on countries of the Hemisphere to
consider recommendations made by various
international organizations to adopt appropriate
principles and mechanisms in applicable law,
dispute settlement procedures and best business
practices for suppliers of goods and services
destined for consumers in cross-border
transactions, among them United Nations, the
OECD, the International Law Association, and the
Caribbean Community. The CJI emphasized the need
for States to establish mechanisms for
international cooperation and coordination in
the area of consumer protection.
The CJI also announced that
as a follow-up to this matter, it would focus
its future efforts on issues relating to
mechanisms for online settlement of disputes
arising from cross-border consumer transactions.
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For the text of the resolution, see “International Protection of Consumers”, CJI/RES.227 (LXXXIX-O/16) of October 13, 2016.
For more information on this topic, please contact the Department of International Law of the OAS – Technical Secretariat of the Inter-American Juridical Committee +1 202 370 0743.
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