개정 UN 소비자보호 가이드라인과 입법 과제

A revised United Nations guidelines for Consumer protection and legislative subject

The purpose of this study is to introduce the revised United Nations guidelines for Consumer protection, is propose the improvement and organization plan of the Consumer legal system including the Framework Act on Consumers. Taking into account the interests and needs of consumers in all Member States, particularly in developing ones, recognizing that consumers often face imbalances in economic terms, educational levels and bargaining power and bearing in mind that consumers should have the right of access to non-hazardous products, as well as the right to promote just, equitable and sustainable economic and social development and environmental protection, these guidelines for consumer protection have the following objectives: (a) To assist countries in achieving or maintaining adequate protection for their population as consumers; (b) To facilitate production and distribution patterns responsive to the needs and desires of consumers; (c) To encourage high levels of ethical conduct for those engaged in the production and distribution of goods and services to consumers; (d) To assist countries in curbing abusive business practices by all enterprises at the national and international levels which adversely affect consumers; (e) To facilitate the development of independent consumer groups; (f) To further international cooperation in the field of consumer protection; (g) To encourage the development of market conditions which provide consumers with greater choice at lower prices (h) To promote sustainable consumption. These guidelines apply to business-to-consumer transactions, including the provision of goods and services by State-owned enterprises to consumers. For the purpose of these guidelines, consumer protection policies include the laws, regulations, rules, frameworks, procedures, decisions, mechanisms and programmes of Member States, as well as private sector standards and recommendations that protect consumer rights and interests and promote consumer welfare. For the purpose of these guidelines, the term “consumer” generally refers to a natural person, regardless of nationality, acting primarily for personal, family orhousehold purposes, while recognizing that Member States may adopt differing definitions to address specific domestic needs. Member States should develop, strengthen or maintain a strong consumer protection policy, taking into account the guidelines set out below and relevant international agreements. In so doing, each Member State must set its own priorities for the protection of consumers in accordance with the economic, social and environmental circumstances of the country and the needs of its population, and bearing in mind the costs and benefits of proposed measures.