72. The Delegation of Costa Rica indicated that representatives of consumers would participate in the National Codex Committee and that the creation of consumers associations was encouraged, as well as consumers education and information. The Consumer Protection Programme included the control of commercial quality, labelling and net weight control of prepackaged food. The National Consumers Commission received complaints and had the legal authority to sanction unfair practices detrimental to consumers.
73. The Delegation of Argentina pointed out that consumers participated in the Advisory Council of the National Food Commission, and food control programmes included the promotion of consumer education and participation.
74. The Delegation of the Dominican Republic informed the Committee that consumers participated in the National Codex Committee and other committees responsible for the review of food legislation, and that consumer support was significant to facilitate government action in food control matters.
75. The Delegation of Brazil indicated that the National Codex Committee included two types of consumer representation: the Department of Consumer Protection and Defence (Ministry of Justice) and the Brazilian Institute of Consumer Defence (IDEC), a non-governmental organization affiliated with Consumers International.
76. The Delegation of El Salvador stated that consumers took part in the deliberations of the committees responsible for food legislation, in the framework of the National Council for Science and Technology.
77. The Delegation of Uruguay informed the Committee that the Directorate of Consumer Protection was part of the Ministry of Economy, which includes the National Codex Committee. The Delegation also pointed out the very active participation of consumers associations in the technical sub-committees of the NCC.
78. The Delegation of Peru indicated that the Department of Consumer Protection was responsible for consumer protection issues and that further participation of consumer associations should be encouraged.
79. The Delegation of Cuba noted that the legal basis for the protection of consumers was currently being established. The Delegation of Panama pointed out that consumers participated in the National Codex Committee, the National Commission for Food Safety and that consumer support had been significant in specific food control actions.
80. The Delegation of Guatemala indicated that consumers participated in the Multisectorial Food Commission, which orients national food policy and that it is intended to integrate consumers in the National Codex Committee.
81. The Delegation of Chile indicated that consumer protection was the responsibility of the Ministry of Economy, and that the Consumer Protection Law was in the process of adoption. It also highlighted the resolutions of the World Food Summit with respect to consumer education.
82. The Delegation of Mexico stressed the importance of consumer participation as a support for government action in food surveillance, and the necessity to promote larger and more effective consumer participation.
83. The Observer from Consumers International stressed the efforts made to ensure the high technical level of consumers representatives in Codex Committees and recalled the recommendation of the CCGP concerning the participation of consumers in National Codex Committees. The Observer highlighted the positive results achieved with such participation in Argentina, Brazil and El Salvador and expressed the view that extensive use should be made of modern means of communications, such as Internet, to facilitate and improve the efficiency of Codex work.
84. The Observer informed the Committee that the FAO/PAHO/CI Regional Workshop on the Integration of Consumers Interests in Food Production and Control (Quito, 1996) had made a number of recommendations for improved consumer participation in food standardization and food control activities.
