European Commission-UNCTAD workshop: Unlocking the full potential of research in product safety

The United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection recognize the general principle that the potential positive role of universities and public and private enterprises in research should be considered when developing consumer protection policies. Also, in advancing consumer interests, particularly in developing countries, the Guidelines recommend that Member States should, where appropriate, give priority to areas of essential concern for the health of the consumer. Policies should be adopted or maintained for product quality control, adequate and secure distribution facilities, standardized international labelling and information, and education and research programmes in these areas. Member State guidelines in regard to specific areas should be developed in the context of the provisions of the present document.

However, research in consumer product safety has not yet been fully harnessed for the benefit of consumers’ health and safety.

Following the three joint European Commission-UNCTAD workshops, this fourth edition will look into the role that academic research plays into strengthening consumer product safety.

The workshop will take place on 12 December at 14:00-15:30 CET in a hybrid format:

-    Online via Webex: please register using the registration link found above to participate online;

-    In person at Steigenberger Wiltcher's Hotel at Avenue Louise 71, 1050 Brussels, Belgium. Please register here to participate in person.

The workshop will feature a brief introduction by leading researchers in the field of consumer protection and consumer product safety to later break into small groups to discuss:

• Examples of good cooperation and synergies between research and product safety professionals (including Government, industry or other);
• Existing training and research programmes on product safety;
• Priority product safety topics that researchers should work on; and
• Synergies between academics and the product safety community.

Interpretation from English and French will be provided.

This event is organized within the framework of UNCTAD’s Working Group on Consumer Product Safety.

Panellists

• Ms. Pinuccia Contino, Deputy to the Director for Consumers, Head of Unite Product Safety and Rapid Alert System, European Commission
• Ms. Teresa Moreira, Head of Competition and Consumer Policies Branch, UNCTAD
• Prof. Elizabeth Keith, Professor of Legal Rhetoric, American University Washington College of Law, US
• Prof. Sebastián Barocelli, Professor at the University of Buenos Aires, former Director of the Consumer Protection institution in Argentina
• Dr. Laura Best, Policy specialist in consumer protection and sustainability, South Africa
• Dr. Eduard Fosch-Villaronga, Associate Professor on Law, Robots, and AI, eLaw Center for Law and Digital Technologies, Leiden University, the Netherlands
• Representative of the fused button batteries research team