Cooperation within UNCTAD
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Working Group on consumer product safety highlights best practices and facilitates information exchange and consultations on product safety.
Workshops
The European Commission and UNCTAD jointly organise workshops to support countries wishing to develop or strengthen their product safety frameworks:
- Workshop on “Building effective consumer product safety frameworks together” (9 November 2021).
Joint EC-UNCTAD workshop 9 November 2021
Links to watch the recording of the event:
In English
In French
- Workshop on “Kick-starting consumer product safety – a worthwhile endeavour” (12 November 2020, in the framework of the International Product Safety Week 2020).
The report of this event is available within the report from the International Product Safety Week 2020
Cooperation within OECD
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development OECD provides a setting where governments seek answers to common product safety challenges, identify good practices and coordinate domestic and international policies. The Commission takes active part in this process.
The European Commission shares information on dangerous products with the OECD Global recall portal.
Awareness-raising campaigns
The European Commission participates in OECD global awareness campaigns:
In November 2020 the European Commission has cooperated with the Australian Competition, Health Canada and Consumer Commission to organize an OECD awareness campaign on the safety of toys sold online, directed at consumers as well as businesses.
In October 2019 the European Commission has cooperated with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to organize an OECD awareness campaign on the importance of product recalls directed at consumers as well as businesses.
In November 2018, the European Commission and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission led the OECD Awareness-raising campaign on the safety of products sold online. The campaign addresses consumers, online sellers, as well as online platforms, and encourages them to take practical steps to buy and sell safe products online.
In June 2016, the European Commission joined the OECD "Global Awareness-raising Campaign on Window Covering Cords" to inform consumers about the risks posed by unsafe window coverings.
In March 2015, the Commission led an OECD global awareness-raising campaign on laundry detergent capsules. The campaign has reached over 100 million people worldwide.
In June 2014, an International Awareness Week on Button Batteriestook place, on risks posed by small batteries, which are present in homes around the world.
Cooperation within ICPSHO
The European Commission also cooperates with the International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organisation ICPSHO, which is an international forum for stakeholders in the public and private sectors with an interest in consumer product safety.