Seventieth Session,
32nd Meeting (PM)
GA/EF/3440

Second Committee Approves Text Calling for Establishment of Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Consumer Protection Law

The Second Committee (Economic and Financial) approved a resolution today on “Consumer protection”, deciding to establish an intergovernmental group of experts on consumer protection law and policy within the framework of an existing commission of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

By other terms of the text, the Committee would decide to adopt the revised United Nations guidelines for consumer protection annexed to the present resolution.  It would also request that all organizations of the United Nations system distribute guidelines and related documents, on specific areas relevant to consumer protection, to the appropriate bodies of individual States.

Furthermore, the Committee would request the Secretary-General to disseminate the guidelines to Member States and other interested parties, and continue to promote effective implementation of the guidelines by Member States, businesses and civil society.  The Committee would also decide that the necessary resources be made available within UNCTAD to carry out the tasks embodied in the revised guidelines through the reallocation of existing resources and voluntary contributions.

The Committee also heard introductions of five draft resolutions entitled “External debt sustainability and development”, “Follow-up to and implementation of the outcome of the International Conferences on Financing for Development”, “Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development”, “South-South cooperation” and “Agriculture development, food security and nutrition”, all introduced by the representative of South Africa, on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China.

Another text entitled “Sustainable tourism and sustainable development in Central America” was introduced today by El Salvador.

The Second Committee is scheduled to meet again on Wednesday, 25 November.

Introduction of Draft Resolutions

The representative of South Africa, speaking on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, introduced several draft resolutions, including one on “External debt sustainability and development” (document A/C.2/70/L.32), another on “Follow-up to the International Conference on Financing for Development” (document A/C.2/70/L.29) and a third on “Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development and the United Nations summit for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda” (document A/C.2/70/L.31).

He also introduced resolutions on “South-South cooperation” (document A/C.2/70/L.33) and “Agriculture development, food security and nutrition” (document A/C.2/70/L.34).

The representative of El Salvador, speaking on behalf of the Central American Integration System, introduced the draft text on “Sustainable tourism and sustainable development in Central America” (document A/C.2/70/L.30), saying that sustainable tourism could be a vital tool for eradicating poverty, protecting the environment and improving the quality of life for citizens.

Action on Draft Resolutions

The Committee then took up a draft resolution entitled “Consumer protection” (document A/C.2/70/L.28), approving the text without a recorded vote.

Turning to organizational matters, the Chair noted that he would be requesting the President of the General Assembly to extend the time allotted to the Second Committee to complete its work.

For information media. Not an official record.