Starting from 2006, the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection shall take presidency of the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN). Poland’s candidacy was unanimously accepted

The main objective of the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN) established in 1992 is counteracting and fighting unfair marketing practices on the international dimension. As a global-reach organization, the Network guarantees a comprehensive, global approach to consumer issues, regardless the differences that divide the legislation in particular countries. The objective of its operation is strengthening and improving enforcement of provisions protecting the rights of weaker market participants.

ICPEN bases on cooperation of member organizations, mainly with reference to problems, which the consumer encounter in case of transactions of a cross-border dimension - especially ones concluded electronically. Exchange of information within the framework of the Network enables conducting effective investigations and court trials against unfair or unreliable entrepreneurs. The ICPEN consists of institutions dealing with protection of consumers from 33 countries worldwide.

Since 2002 the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection participates in the International Internet Sweeps organized by the ICPEN. Its objective is the promotion of fair entrepreneurship, education of Internet users and emphasis of the presence of control and supervision authorities on the net. Information collected while the systematic Internet research enable to evaluate the nature of customer on-line turnover and problems referring to this sphere of the market. Until now, within the framework of the ICPEN, sites have been controlled, among other, with reference to advertising of mobile telephony directed to children and youth, which was illegal, and misleading, “get-rich-quick” websites, paramedical articles and tourist services. It resulted in sending numerous letters to entrepreneurs demanding from them to adjust the contents of the webpages to the legal requirements. Most owners of Internet site adjusted to the demands of the President of UOKiK.

Poland’s candidacy to take the presidency of the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network was accepted unanimously. Already since 9 November, UOKiK shall enter into the makeup of the so-called ‘Troika’, established by the current presidency (Korea), the previous one (United Kingdom) and the future one, namely Poland. The ‘Troika’ is a decision-making body within the framework of the ICPEN. For the coming meeting on 26-28 March 2006 it shall prepare the assumptions for a long-tem strategy of the organization.

According to UOKiK, an important task of the Polish presidency shall be to activate the Central and Easter European states. By joining common actions more extensively, they can bring their own experiences into the organization and provide ICPEN a new impulse for development. Moreover, the representatives of UOKiK filed a recommendation of systematic collection of knowledge about the consumers. Such diagnosis should constitute the basis for intensive informational campaigns and long-term educational programmes. The ICPEN can assign a global dimension to the informational and educational campaigns. Already today, the consumers who are convinced, that they were the victims of unfair practices, can register their complaints via the Internet site www.econsumer.gov, which constitutes a worldwide mechanism for filing in the on-line complaints to the ICPEN.

The fact that Poland takes the ICPEN presidency in 2006 implies greater involvement of the Network’s initiative aiming at ensuring customers with safe participation in the economic circulation - the electronic one. One of the intentions of UOKiK is presentation of Polish experiences in managing the consumer policy and especially its innovative and unique combination in a single Office, compete with the policy of competition protection. This solution raises great interest on the European and international forum - as indicating the direction of the desired evolution in countries where the antitrust policy and the consumer policy are implemented by separate institutions.

Additional Information:
Elżbieta Anders, Spokesperson of UOKiK
Department of International Relations and Communication
Office of Competition and Consumer Protection
Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warsaw
Tel. 22 827 28 92, 55 60 106, 55 60 314
E-mail: eanders@uokik.gov.pl