Consumers International
Encyclopedia
Consumers International (CI) is the world federation of consumer groups that serves as the only independent and authoritative global voice for consumers. It is based in London
, England.
Founded on April 1, 1960, currently with over 220 member organisations in 115 countries around the world, the organisation continues to build a powerful international movement to empower and protect consumers everywhere.
In campaigning for the rights of consumers across the world, CI seeks to hold corporations to account and acts as a global watchdog against any behaviour that threatens, ignores or abuses the principles of consumer protection
.
CI is a not-for-profit
company limited by guarantee
, company number 4337865 and registered charity
number 1122155.
. The original members recognised that they could build upon their individual strengths by working across national borders.
The organisation then rapidly grew and soon became established as the voice of the international consumer movement on issues such as: product and food standards, health and patients’ rights, the environment and sustainable consumption, and the regulation of international trade
and public utilities.
John F. Kennedy
said:
There are eight basic consumer rights
which include the rights to:
About two-thirds of member organisations are in developing countries
, the other third in industrialised countries
.
These members include a wide range of different independent consumer organisations and government organisations. Some independent member organisations are long-established, with hundreds of staff and millions of their own members, whilst others are semi-voluntary associations providing information and advice about basic services in some of the world's poorest countries.
CI also works with and hosts the Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD) - a forum of US and EU consumer organisations that develops and agrees on joint 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.
Generation campaign.
It is an annual occasion for celebration and solidarity within the international consumer movement:
, whilst raising awareness of consumer rights and responsibilities
Current campaigns, projects and key issues include:
(A2K). Project highlights and publications include:
(ISO) through the years. Current participation at the ISO includes:
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England.
Founded on April 1, 1960, currently with over 220 member organisations in 115 countries around the world, the organisation continues to build a powerful international movement to empower and protect consumers everywhere.
In campaigning for the rights of consumers across the world, CI seeks to hold corporations to account and acts as a global watchdog against any behaviour that threatens, ignores or abuses the principles of consumer protection
Consumer protection
Consumer protection laws designed to ensure fair trade competition and the free flow of truthful information in the marketplace. The laws are designed to prevent businesses that engage in fraud or specified unfair practices from gaining an advantage over competitors and may provide additional...
.
CI is a not-for-profit
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
company limited by guarantee
Company limited by guarantee
In British and Irish company law, a private company limited by guarantee is an alternative type of corporation used primarily for non-profit organisations that require legal personality. A guarantee company does not usually have a share capital or shareholders, but instead has members who act as...
, company number 4337865 and registered charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
number 1122155.
History
The organisation was first established in 1960 as the International Organisation of Consumers Unions (IOCU) by national consumer organisationsConsumer organization
Consumer organizations are advocacy groups that seek to protect people from corporate abuse like unsafe products, predatory lending, false advertising, astroturfing and pollution.Consumer organizations may operate via protests, campaigning or lobbying...
. The original members recognised that they could build upon their individual strengths by working across national borders.
The organisation then rapidly grew and soon became established as the voice of the international consumer movement on issues such as: product and food standards, health and patients’ rights, the environment and sustainable consumption, and the regulation of international trade
International trade
International trade is the exchange of capital, goods, and services across international borders or territories. In most countries, such trade represents a significant share of gross domestic product...
and public utilities.
Consumer rights
On 15 March 1962 former US PresidentPresident of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
said:
There are eight basic consumer rights
Consumer Bill of Rights
Before the mid-twentieth century, consumers were without rights with regard to their interaction with products and commercial producers. Consumers had little ground on which to defend themselves against faulty or defective products, or against misleading or deceptive advertising methods.By the...
which include the rights to:
- satisfaction of basic needs - to have access to basic, essential goods and services: adequate food, clothing, shelter, health careHealth careHealth care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
, education, public utilitiesPublic utilityA public utility is an organization that maintains the infrastructure for a public service . Public utilities are subject to forms of public control and regulation ranging from local community-based groups to state-wide government monopolies...
, water and sanitation - safety - to be protected against products, production processes and services which are hazardous to health or life
- information - to be given the facts needed to make an informed choice, and to be protected against dishonest or misleading advertising and labelling.
- choice - to be able to select from a range of products and services, offered at competitive prices with an assurance of satisfactory quality
- be heard - to have consumer interests represented in the making and execution of government policy, and in the development of products and services.
- redress - to receive a fair settlement of just claims, including compensation for misrepresentation, shoddy goods or unsatisfactory services.
- consumer education - to acquire knowledge and skills needed to make informed, confident choices about goods and servicesGoods and servicesIn economics, economic output is divided into physical goods and intangible services. Consumption of goods and services is assumed to produce utility. It is often used when referring to a Goods and Services Tax....
, while being aware of basic consumer rights and responsibilities and how to act on them. - a healthy environment -to live and work in an environment that is non-threatening to the well being of present and future generations.
Membership
CI supports and represents over 220 member organisations in 115 countries around the world.About two-thirds of member organisations are in developing countries
Developing country
A developing country, also known as a less-developed country, is a nation with a low level of material well-being. Since no single definition of the term developing country is recognized internationally, the levels of development may vary widely within so-called developing countries...
, the other third in industrialised countries
Developed country
A developed country is a country that has a high level of development according to some criteria. Which criteria, and which countries are classified as being developed, is a contentious issue...
.
These members include a wide range of different independent consumer organisations and government organisations. Some independent member organisations are long-established, with hundreds of staff and millions of their own members, whilst others are semi-voluntary associations providing information and advice about basic services in some of the world's poorest countries.
CI also works with and hosts the Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD) - a forum of US and EU consumer organisations that develops and agrees on joint consumer policy recommendations to the US government and European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
to promote the consumer interest in EU and US policy making - at its office in London.
World Consumer Rights Day
World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) first took place on 15 March 1983 and has since become an important occasion for mobilising citizen action, celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2008 with the launch of the Junk FoodJunk food
Junk food is an informal term applied to some foods that are perceived to have little or no nutritional value ; to products with nutritional value, but which also have ingredients considered unhealthy when regularly eaten; or to those considered unhealthy to consume at all...
Generation campaign.
It is an annual occasion for celebration and solidarity within the international consumer movement:
- promoting the basic rightsHuman rightsHuman rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
of all consumers - demanding that those rights are respected and protected
- protesting about the market abuses and social injustices which undermine them.
Campaigns, projects and key issues
CI campaigns seek to achieve real changes in government policy and corporate behaviourCorporate behaviour
Corporate behaviour is the behaviour of an organisation when considered as a single body.The behaviour of an organisation is influenced by the arrangements for its ownership and control...
, whilst raising awareness of consumer rights and responsibilities
Current campaigns, projects and key issues include:
Junk Food Generation
The campaign against the marketing of unhealthy food to children. Campaign highlights and publications include:- Left wanting more
- New mediaNew mediaNew media is a broad term in media studies that emerged in the latter part of the 20th century. For example, new media holds out a possibility of on-demand access to content any time, anywhere, on any digital device, as well as interactive user feedback, creative participation and community...
, same old tricks - Cereal offences
- The junk food trap
- International Code on the marketing of food and non-alcoholic beveragesNon-alcoholic beveragesA non-alcoholic beverage is a beverage that contains less than 0.5% alcohol by volume. See §7.71, paragraphs and . Non-alcoholic versions of some alcoholic beverages, such as non-alcoholic beer and...
to children - World Consumer Rights Day 2008 and 2009
Marketing Overdose
The campaign against the unethical promotion of drugs. Campaign highlights and publications include:- Drugs, doctors and dinners
- Branding the cure
- World Consumer Rights Day 2007
Access to knowledge (A2K)
This project facilitates the global consumer dialogue and education network about Access to KnowledgeAccess to knowledge
The Access to Knowledge movement is a loose collection of civil society groups, governments, and individuals converging on the idea that access to knowledge should be linked to fundamental principles of justice, freedom, and economic development....
(A2K). Project highlights and publications include:
- Launch of the Intellectually Property (IP) Watch List - a global snapshot of how IP and copyright laws serve or subvert consumer interests
Financial crisis – Consumer solutions to the financial fix
Issue progress includes:- Submission of a position paper to the OECD Committee for Consumer Policy for its discussion on the strategic response to the global financial and economic crisis.
- Submission to the UNUnited NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
General AssemblyUnited Nations General AssemblyFor two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
on Reforms of International Monetary and Financial systemGlobal financial systemThe global financial system is the financial system consisting of institutions and regulators that act on the international level, as opposed to those that act on a national or regional level...
.
Corporate social responsibility and standards
CI has represented consumers on many committees of the International Organisation for StandardisationInternational Organization for Standardization
The International Organization for Standardization , widely known as ISO, is an international standard-setting body composed of representatives from various national standards organizations. Founded on February 23, 1947, the organization promulgates worldwide proprietary, industrial and commercial...
(ISO) through the years. Current participation at the ISO includes:
- Working towards ISO 26000 - a new standard that is very important because it will set out how organisations, which claim they are socially responsibleSocial responsibilitySocial responsibility is an ethical ideology or theory that an entity, be it an organization or individual, has an obligation to act to benefit society at large. Social responsibility is a duty every individual or organization has to perform so as to maintain a balance between the economy and the...
in their working practices, give feedback to consumers.
The Real Deal
This series of features highlight unethical and unsustainable behaviour by corporations and governments, as part of CI's ongoing work on sustainable consumption. Features include:- Check this out before you check in… exposing the unethical behaviour of international hotel chains
- e-waste: West AfricaWest AfricaWest Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
continues to drown in the rich world’s obsolete electronics - The hidden cost of mobile phones
- Just coffee
Offices
CI has four offices in:- Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaKuala LumpurKuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
- Santiago, ChileSantiago, ChileSantiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
- London, United KingdomLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
- Johannesburg, South AfricaJohannesburgJohannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...