SIC Leads International Discussion On Product Safety

In a significant exhibition of international collaboration, a successful webinar titled "Towards a Safety Future: Innovation in Product Safety Policies and Effective Recalls" was held on August 24th, 2023. The event, organized by the Strategic Alliances Working Group of the OAS Consumer Safety and Health Network (CSHN), currently chaired by the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (SIC), brought together distinguished experts and international leaders in consumer protection and product safety. 

In her welcoming remarks, Ms. NATALIA ALVIS, SIC Deputy Superintendent for Consumer Protection, emphasized the relevance of international cooperation and coordination to ensure product safety. Following this, Mr. JUAN PABLO LÓPEZ, Director of Consumer Protection Investigations, assumed the role of moderator, guiding the discussions during the webinar. 

The panel of experts featured distinguished representatives from various parts of the world, both from the public sector and civil society. Among them were Ms. Myriam Denieul from the Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers of the European Commission (EC), Ms. Wimonrat Rukkhaworakul Teriyapirom from Thailand's Office of Consumer Protection Board (OCPB), Mr. Peter Andrews from Consumers International, Mr. Leonard Morrissey from the International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization (ICPHSO), Mr. Keven Barton, and Mr. Robert Hull from the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Highlights:

Some of the discussion's keys points included adapting product safety policies to latest technological advances, the role of social media, education, artificial intelligence, and the effectiveness of product safety campaigns in a context of information overload and fake news, where certain groups, such as vulnerable consumers, require special attention. 

Furthermore, the webinar provided a platform for dialogue on best practices, experiences, and emerging challenges in the field of product safety. 

About CSHN:

The Consumer Safety and Health Network (CSHN) is the inter-American mechanism of the Organization of American States (OAS) specialized in promoting consumer rights protection in monitoring the safety of consumer products and their impact on health and well-being.