OECD Consumer Policy Ministerial Meeting 2024

OECD Consumer Policy Ministerial Meeting

Consumers at the centre of the digital and green transitions

8-9 October 2024
OECD Headquarters - Paris, France

KeyOutcomes

On 8-9 October 2024, 37 ministers and heads of consumer agencies from 55 countries and 12 international organisations, as well as key stakeholders attended the OECD Consumer Policy Ministerial meeting. The key outcomes of the meeting include the approval of the Declaration on Protecting and Empowering Consumers in the Digital and Green Transitions, the Global Forum on Consumer Policy, and an awareness campaign on the safe and responsible use of lithium-ion batteries. 
Press releaseDeclarationLithium-ion awareness campaignFamily photo

Shaping tomorrow: Consumers in the digital and green transitions

We are all consumers. In today's digitally enhanced world, 70% of us shop online, but we face risks like unsafe products, misleading ads, and privacy erosion. Meanwhile, climate change and environmental concerns challenge us to seek truly sustainable options, which can often be hard to find. Effective consumer protection policies are crucial, and international co-operation is key. For over 50 years, the OECD has been leading efforts to address critical consumer issues, providing research, recommendations, and tools for policymakers. 
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Key resources Issues notes

Access the documents that set the stage for exchanges at the OECD Consumer Policy Ministerial Meeting.
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Setting the scene plenary: Consumers at the centre of the digital and green transitions

In today’s rapidly evolving global economy, consumers are at the centre of two major societal shifts – the digital and green transitions. With consumer spending accounting for about 60% of GDP in OECD countries on average and 55% globally, they are the largest economic group in the global economy and can thus play an important role in the two transitions...

Protecting and empowering consumers in the digital transition

The digital transition has profoundly changed consumers’ interaction with the marketplace. Well-functioning digital markets can benefit consumers through easy access to a wide range of goods and services and more complete information to make informed decisions. Digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, and virtual reality, hold the promise of improving consumers’ lives. However, the benefits of digital markets also bear downsides...

Addressing new consumer product safety risks in a fast-evolving and global marketplace

Unsafe products can have devastating consequences for consumers, resulting in death and injury, and cause significant economic harm. In the European Union, for example, the preventable detriment suffered by consumers and society due to accidents caused by unsafe products was estimated at USD 15.5 billion per year, with consumers wasting a further USD 25.6 billion per year when such products were not refundable...

Protecting and empowering consumers in the green transition

The world is facing interlinked global crises of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss. As highlighted at the Ministerial Meeting of the OECD Council in May 2024, addressing these challenges requires ambitious actions. Acting on the demand-side of markets can be an important complement to supply side measures…

Working together across borders to protect and empower consumers

Enabled by e-commerce and digital business models, cross-border consumer transactions continue to grow. While solid data is lacking, it is estimated that globally, cross-border e-commerce was worth around USD 3 trillion in 2022…

Promoting development and inclusivity through consumer policy

Consumer policy can serve as a tool to support economic development by addressing a myriad of challenges that can hinder market efficiency and positive economic outcomes. First, consumer policy mitigates the costs arising from deceptive, unfair or fraudulent business practices and unsafe products…
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Photo exhibition Voices of Change: Protecting and empowering consumers for a better tomorrow

Voices of Change, presented alongside the inaugural OECD Consumer Policy Ministerial meeting, brings global consumer experiences to the forefront.
Browse the exhibition
Browse the exhibition

Consumer policy Key themes

Consumer policy ensures informed choices, fair treatment, and safety, while encouraging healthy competition for businesses, spurring innovation and fostering sustainable economic growth.
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Dark commercial patterns

Sustainable consumption

Consumer behavioural insights

Product safety

Consumer policy and digital technologies

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Background Documents

Business at OECD's Statement

Empowering Consumers Together: A Roadmap for OECD Policies

Contacts

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