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International representation

Consumers International (CI) is formally recognised and has status as an officially accredited international NGO with virtually all the key international bodies and forums. As a member of CI, national consumer organisations are able to directly influence these bodies.

At a time when the global marketplace is increasingly dominated by international corporations, the need for a global consumer movement with access to international decision-making bodies is needed more than ever.

International bodies to which CI has special access include:

• specialist UN agencies (UNIDO, UNEP and UNESCO)
• the World Health Organization (in particular the Codex Alimentarius, the WHO agency for international standards in food)
• the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and
• the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO).

Other organisations include:

• Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
• the European Commission
• World Economic Forum, and 
• other regional organisations.

CI also serves as the Secretariat for the TransAtlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD), which plays an increasingly important and influential role with both the European Commission and the US agencies dealing with international trade.

Success story: GM labelling

Consumers International has pushed for the adoption of mandatory labelling of GM food by the world food standards body, Codex Alimentarius.

Today GM labelling is required in the European Union, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Thailand, Korea, China, Russia and Brazil - countries that account for about a third of the world's consumers. However, because of trade implications, other countries (the United States, New Zealand, Mexico) continue to intensely oppose a Codex guideline. 

This is largely due to the effective lobbying efforts of CI staff and members, including:

• Consumers Union of the US
• VOICE India
• Foundation for Consumers Thailand
• CHOICE Australia
• CIN Kenya
• KONFOP Russia
• IDEC Brazil
• Consumers Association Ghana, and 
• Zambia Consumers Association.

This serves to illustrate that progress can be very slow with international bodies such as the Codex Alimentarius. Committee work develops over a cycle that spreads out over several years. It is only through consistency in policy and continuity of representation that the work of consumer organisations can bear fruit over time.

Procedure for member representation

This access to international decision-making bodies has the dual benefit of strengthening CI's campaigning message and boosting the profile of individual consumer groups in a global and domestic setting. However, as an organisation that determines policy positions and priorities through consultation with members, those acting as its representatives must operate within the same framework.

A two-step procedure is in place in the form of a Member Representation Request Form.

1. Members are required to complete the first part of the form to provide information about the meeting, and explain how it would fit into CI's strategic objectives. 
2. The form also requires members to provide a brief written report on the meeting by filling out the second section of the CI Representation request form within ten working days of the event.

The report is then circulated to the wider CI membership and an edited version appears on our website.

CI representatives are also required to abide by  CI Representation guidelines when they represent CI at meetings.

Types of representation

Participation in a CI delegation
For major events on priority issues, at regional as well as international level, CI will often be represented by more than one person. On these occasions it will designate an official co-ordinator or head of delegation.

Individual representation at CI's initiative
At conferences, working groups and other events, CI frequently nominates a single representative.

Representation at the initiative of a member
On some occasions, a member or group of members with the interest and resources to do so may wish to participate in meetings which CI itself cannot support.

Requesting international representation

Special interest representation
Even though CI focuses representation on a selected number of issues, areas of special interest for members - whether regional or global - can be supported through the CI representation mechanism. In such cases, financial support is not available.

Members who wish to request accreditation to an international event must notify the CI member services coordinator at bwolf@consint.org well before opportunities occur.