Fernand Van Gansbeke DG Enforcement and Mediation Belgium

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Fernand Van GansbekeDG Enforcement and
MediationBelgium

• Enforcing Consumer Protection Legislation
• The Belgian Experience

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1. Introduction

• Belgium federal state - Kingdom
• 10,1 mio inhabitants (91 Belgians)
• 3 languages (61 Dutch - 38 French - lt1
  German)
• 3 federate states (Flanders - Wallonia and
  Brussels Capital Region)
• 10 provinces Brussels Capital Region
• 26 judicial districts
• 589 municipalities

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2. DG Enforcement MediationOrganisation

• Market Surveillance a federal matter
• DG Enforcement Mediation (part of the F.P.S.
  Economy)
• gt 35 Acts and 250 Decrees
• DG Enforcement Mediation
• economic and administrative police
• (under supervision Minister and Public
  Prosecutor)
• Central offices and 7 regional offices
• 310 officers (200 field officers)

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3. Market Surveillance in general

• Importance of market surveillance and consumer
  protection for the market economy
• The larger market due to globalisation
• The importance of international cooperation
• The necessary links between public authority,
  consumers and the economic agents.

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4. Protection of ConsumersEconomic Interests

• Amsterdam Treatyhorizontal policy in the EU
• Priority for the new government
• Nuclear priority gt 15.000 complaints per year

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5. DG Enforcement Mediation Role (1)

• The basic legislation
• gt25 laws and 250 Royal Decrees
• Trade Practices Act (gt40.000 Enquiries/year)
• Consumer Credit Act (gt 1.500 Enquiries/year)
• Matrimonial Agencies Act
• Travel Organisation and Intermediation Contract
  Act
• Time Sharing Act
• ...
• Evolution in priorities

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5. DG Enforcement Mediation Role (2)

• How do the enforcers take action ?
• information
• prevention - warning procedure
• repression
• administrative settement
• public prosecutor
• administrative measures.

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6. The role of consumer organisations

• Advice in individual cases
• Injunction procedure for the protection of
  consumer interests
• Consumer education and information
• Deliberation with professional organisations

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7. Cooperation Public Authorities and
Consumer Organisations (1)

• Consumer Organisations impact
• Constant dialogue with professional
  organisations
• --gt through the Consumption Council
• gt250 balanced opinions on consumer items
• Consumer Information and Education
• --gt time/place on TV and Radio

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7. Cooperation Public Authorities and
Consumer Organisations (2)

• Elaboration of Model Contracts (together with
  professional organisations), with mediation
  systems
• (--gt support from Public Authority)
• No direct subsidies from the Public Authorities
  in order to maintain the independency
• The CRIOC study and rechearch center for the
  Consumer Organisations
• --gt technical support for C.O.
• --gt training and information for C.O.

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8. International cooperation

• Globalisation of economy
• European internal market
• Bilateral cooperation
• Protocols FR - UK - LUX - HU
• Pragmatic NL - DU
• Multilateral cooperation
• International Consumer Protection
• Enforcement Network (ICPEN)

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9. Latest trends in consumer protection -
e-commerce

• The dilemma
• Surveying the internet
• Regulatory Framework Trade Practices Act
• Law on e-commerce
• Growing number of consumer complaints

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10. Consumer protection ine-commerce (1)

• Circumstances
• Need for protection against new impostors
• Special unities with enforcement services
• Specific strategy for controlling e-commerce
• 2 search teams of 6 officers each
• a search day per week in special internet lab
• registration of findings, copy of illegal items
• warning and follow-up, or repression

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10. Consumer Protection in e-commerce (2)

• Technology
• Specialised research modules
• Identification
• Registration
• Inspection

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10. Consumer Protection in e-commerce (3)

• Findings and results after 3,5 years of exercice
• gt 3500 Belgian commercial sites examined
• 1154 breach records -gt 529 warning procedures
• gt 120 repressive actions
• Future
• sites aimed at the Belgian market
• sites responding on Belgian visitors

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11. Conclusions

• Authorities, professional and consumer
  organisations have all an important role to play
• Cross-border consumption --gt need for
  international administrative enforcement
  cooperation
• Welcome the regulation on Consumer Protection
  Cooperation

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Fernand T.G. VAN GANSBEKEDG
Enforcement MediationWTC 3 - Office
9-050Boulevard Simon Bolivar 30B- 1000
BRUSSELSPhone 32-2.208.39.17Fax
32-2.208.39.15Email fernand.vangansbeke_at_mineco
.fgov.beWebsite www.mineco.fgov.be