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www.option-consommateurs.org/en/
Making consumers the focus of public product safety policy
Perspectives from a consumers’ association presented to ICPHSO 6th International
meetingToronto (Ontario)
October 28th, 2009
www.option-consommateurs.org/en/
Introduction
Introduction to Option consommateurs
Background on its work in product safety
Work methods Case study Consumer issues on product safety Challenges and expectations Conclusion
www.option-consommateurs.org/en/
Option consommateurs (1)
Mission: To promote and defend the rights and interests of consumers and ensure they are respected.
Clientele: We serve all consumers in vulnerable situations, with particular attention given to those who are more socio-economically disadvantaged. We work on issues that involve Quebec and Canadian policy equally.
History: Option consommateurs was founded in 1983. It is a product of the family economy cooperative movement (associations coopératives d’économie familiale or ACEF) and particularly the ACEF de Montréal. Ottawa office in Sept. 2008.
www.option-consommateurs.org/en/
Option consommateurs (2)
Team: About 30 professionals (lawyers, budget counsellors, analysts, journalists, etc.)
Five services: Budget service (individual consultation, microcredit, information sessions), Energy efficiency service, (home visits, information sessions), Legal service (legal information and class action), News agency service (informative articles, buying guides, surveys), and Research and representation service (participation on committees, work groups, parliamentary commissions and standing committees, and research and awareness projects).
Expertise: financial services, energy, access to justice, commercial practices, debt, privacy protection, standards, health, and food
www.option-consommateurs.org/en/
Background on our work in product safety
First involvement in the health sector: breast prostheses
Annual Toy Guide with Protégez-Vous magazine since 1997
Research projects on the safety of noise-making toys
Member of SCC’ CPIC Answering media inquiries on product safety
(toy for example) Participation in the parliamentary process
leading to the adoption of Bill C-6 on the safety of consumer products
www.option-consommateurs.org/en/
Work methods
Research Special projects Representation at consultations and
in legislative, regulatory and standardization processes
Media relations
www.option-consommateurs.org/en/
Case study (1)
Noisy Toy Safety (2004-2005)
Based on research project « Safety of Noisy Toys: A Current Assessment »
Review of the litterature on noise and its impact on children
Noise levels mesurement of 40 toys in laboratory, following Health Canada standards
Noise levels measurement of a sample in two daycare centres
Assessment of the quality of the information on 350 sound-producing toy packages sold in Quebec
Evaluation of 40 toys in families and survey
www.option-consommateurs.org/en/
Case study (2)
Representation
Creation of the National Coalition on Noisy Toys (september 2004)
Members: Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (CASLPA), Canadian Academy of Audiology, Canadian Hearing Foundation, Nova Scotia Hearing and Speech Centres (NSHSC) et Ordre des orthophonistes et audiologistes du Québec
Observator : Bureau de normalisation du Québec (BNQ)
www.option-consommateurs.org/en/
Case study (3)
Purpose of the Coalition
To raise public awareness on the potential risks of noisy toys
To provide preventive measures and guidelines to the general public on noisy toys
To promote the formation of a stakeholders group of interested parties to revisit the current laws as they relat to noisy toys and their measurement
Monitor international standards related to noise produce by toys
www.option-consommateurs.org/en/
Case study (4)
Action plan
Public launch of research results in press conference and nation-wide awareness campaign
Letters to provincial and federal health ministers Letters to academics in audiology and speech-
language pathology Participation to the international standard
process Meeting with Health Canada’ Consumer
Product Safety Bureau
www.option-consommateurs.org/en/
Case study (5)
Impact
Important media coverage in Quebec and Canada (8 articles in newspapers (G&B and Toronto Star); televised appearance on national networks of CTV and Global
Creation of a poster by student in audiology Reactivation of the canadian advisory
committee of ISO 181 on toy safety (CAC/ISO/TC/181)
www.option-consommateurs.org/en/
Case study (6)
Facilitating factors (+) and Difficulties(-)
(+) funding for research(+) interest and great involvement of partners(-) lack of ressources for the management of the Coalition(-) difficulties to find scientifics data on the impact of
noise on children (very new research domain)(-) misunderstanding of Health Canada’ Consumer
Product Safety Bureau organisational culture (-) communication gap between Health Canada’
Consumer Product Safety Bureau and members of the Coalition
www.option-consommateurs.org/en/
Case study (7)
Conclusions
As civil society representatives, we can play a role in defining the issue, collecting the information, assessing options and policy development, supporting the implementation and communication of public policies
By our work, we can also play a role on the topicality of issues (media and membership)
www.option-consommateurs.org/en/
Consumers’ Issues on product safety
Toy regulations Proactive disclosure Incident notifications Recall policy
www.option-consommateurs.org/en/
Challenges
External Literacy level of Canadians, and deluge of
information Production chain outside Canada Lack of redress mechanism
Pertaining to consumers groups Lack of and imbalance in resources
available to government, industry and consumer representatives
Poor public administration knowledge
www.option-consommateurs.org/en/
Expectations
Communication channels (at all levels of the public participation continuum)
Invitation to consultations at the optimum time
Implementation of a contribution program to improve expertise among consumer and user groups
Establishment of specific advisory committees – in priority areas – and with the required resources
www.option-consommateurs.org/en/
Thank you!
Question ?
Geneviève ReedHeadResearch and Representation [email protected]