PURPOSE: the establishment of a Community programme in the field of Consumer Policy (2007-2013).
LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision 1926/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a programme of Community action in the field of consumer policy (2007-2013).
CONTENT: the purpose of the programme is to two fold:
- firstly, to complement, support and monitor the policies of the Member States; and
- secondly, to contribute to protecting the health, safety and economic and legal interests of consumers, as well as to promote their rights to information, to education and to organise themselves in order to safeguard their interests.
The programme will run from 31 December 2006 to 31 December 2013 with a total financial envelope of EUR 156 800 000.
It consists of eleven actions, which are listed in Annex I to this Regulation. They are as follows:
Action 1: The collection, exchange and analysis of data and information that provide an evidence base for the development of consumer policy and for the integration of consumer interests in other Community policies.
Action 2: The collection, exchange, analysis of data and information and development of assessment tools that provide an evidence base on the safety of consumer goods and services, including consumer exposure to chemicals released from products risks and injuries in relation to specific consumer products and services and technical analysis of alert notifications.
Action 3: Support for scientific advice and risk evaluation, including the tasks of the independent scientific committees established by Commission Decision 2004/210/EC setting up Scientific Committees in the field of consumer safety, public health and the environment.
Action 4: preparation of legislative and other regulatory initiative and the promotion of co-regulatory and self-regulatory initiatives.
Action 5: Financial contributions to European consumer organisations.
Action 6: Financial contributions European consumer organisations representing consumer interests in the development of standards for products and services at Community level.
Action 7: Capacity building for regional, national and European consumer organisations, notably through training and exchange of best practice and expertise for staff members, in particular, for consumer organisations in Member States which acceded in May 2004.
Action 8: Actions to improve the effective application of Community consumer protection legislation.
Action 9: Legal and technical expertise, including studies.
Action 10: Actions on information, advice and redress.
Action 11: Actions on consumer education including targeting young and old consumers and financial contributions to the development of an integrated European Masters Degree on consumer issues.
ENTRY INTO FORCE: 31 December 2006.