New members to ICPEN and new initiative aimed at promotion of airline passenger rights are the main outcome of the conference organised by Poland on 23-24 October 2006 under ICPEN Presidency

The main objective of the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN), established in 1992, is preventing and counteracting unfair marketing practices of international scope, as well as promotion of regulations that protect the weaker market participants. As an international organization, the Network ensures comprehensive, global attitude to consumer issues, regardless of differences between the legislations of individual countries. Since 1 August 2006, Poland, represented by the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection, presides over the works of ICPEN under the theme “Consumer Awareness Raising. Knowledge as the basis for conscious market participation”.

Until now, ICPEN proposed a number of initiatives, of which the realisation involved many member states of the Network, e.g. International Sweep Day or Fraud Prevention Month. Another challenge for ICPEN is the support for alternative methods of international dispute settlement between the consumers and the entrepreneurs. One of the initiatives in this respect is e.g. E-consumer project. Under this project, a website www.econsumer.gov has been launched, which allows for an online submissions of claims.

Appreciating the importance of information and education measures for consumer protection worldwide, UOKiK proposed a new initiative under the theme “PassengAIR - For your right to safe flight”. Under this initiative, the Office presented the results of control carried out at 16 airline carriers with the largest market share in Poland. The inquiry showed a number of illegal practices used by airlines. The problem of infringement of airline passenger rights was also widely discussed during the conference organised in Warsaw with the participation of ICPEN members. The countries have shown interest in joint actions with respect to misleading advertising, unreliable information or abusive clauses used by certain carriers.

At present, 36 countries participate in the works of ICPEN. During Warsaw conference, the Network accepted new members - China and Azerbaijan.

Additional information:
Elżbieta Anders, Spokesperson of UOKiK
Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warszawa
Tel. 22 827 28 92, 55 60 106, 55 60 314
faks 22 826 11 86

E-mail eanders@uokik.gov.pl