27 July 1990

37th Plenary Meeting

1990/85. Consumer protection

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling General Assembly resolution 39/248 of 9 April 1985, in which the Assembly adopted guidelines for consumer protection,

Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolution 1988/61 of 27 July 1988, in which Governments were urged to implement guidelines for consumer protection and the Secretary-General was requested to provide assistance to Governments in that regard,

Noting with satisfaction the recommendations of the United Nations Regional Seminar on Consumer Protection for Asia and the Pacific, held at the headquarters of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific from 19 to 22 June 1990,

Aware that the need for assistance in the area of consumer protection, particularly in developing countries, still remains great,

Recognizing the role of non-governmental organizations in promoting the implementation of the guidelines and the growing awareness by the private sector of the benefits of consumer policies,

Noting the efforts currently being undertaken within the United Nations system in promoting the implementation of the guidelines on consumer protection,

1. Commends the Secretary-General for his report on consumer protection, prepared pursuant to Council resolution 1988/61;

2. Urges all Governments to continue their efforts to implement the guidelines for consumer protection and establish appropriate means to co-ordinate policies and programmes for consumer protection;

3. Encourages Governments to collaborate, as appropriate, in joint efforts for the protection of consumers, including the development of product safety standards and testing procedures, and in the exchange of information and advisory services;

4. Requests the Secretary-General, in co-operation with the development funds and programmes of the United Nations, the regional commissions and other relevant bodies and agencies of the United Nations system, to continue to provide assistance to Governments, in particular those of developing countries and other interested countries, in implementing the guidelines on consumer protection, and to develop a programme of action for the next five years on the implementation of the guidelines; such a programme, to be reviewed on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the guidelines, should be implemented subject to the availability of extrabudgetary resources and should involve specific activities such as the convening of regional seminars and follow-up activities, a survey of consumer protection measures undertaken within the framework of the guidelines for consumer protection, the provision of advisory services to Governments, in particular those of developing countries, at their request, and t

he elaboration of specific guidelines in areas of emerging concern;

5. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the Economic and Social Council at its second regular session of 1992 on the implementation of the present resolution.