UN principles on consumer product safety officially launched as world reaffirms commitment to fair and competitive markets

• More than 400 participants from over 80 countries reaffirmed in Geneva the importance of international dialogue and peer learning to keep markets fair, competitive and safe.
• The United Nations Principles for Consumer Product Safety were officially launched, providing a new global framework to strengthen cooperation on product safety.
• Development-oriented competition policies are needed to support food security and build more resilient markets.
• Digital market challenges require stronger international cooperation and updated regulatory frameworks.

GENEVA, Switzerland – From rising food prices and increasingly concentrated markets to unsafe products sold online and rapidly evolving digital platforms, consumers and businesses are facing new challenges in an increasingly fragmented and uncertain global economy.

Against this backdrop, countries gathered in Geneva from 6 to 10 July with practical solutions to ensure that markets remain fair, competitive and safe.

“When markets work for people, consumers can trust what they buy and pay fair prices for the goods and services they need,” said UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) acting secretary-general Pedro Manuel Moreno at the opening of the week-long discussions.

Consumer protection, he noted, “is about trust”, while competition “comes down to the prices people pay.”

Official launch of the UN Principles for Consumer Product Safety

A key milestone of the meeting was the official launch of the United Nations Principles for Consumer Product Safety, adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2025.

Participants emphasised that the principles provide a common global framework to strengthen product safety systems and market surveillance, while helping countries address the growing risks associated with digital marketplaces and increasingly complex global supply chains.

“Safety is not an optional extra. It is the basis for consumer trust – and trust can become a competitive advantage for responsible businesses,” said Hubert Gambs, deputy director-general for digital transformation, justice and consumers at the European Commission.

Gambs added that consumer product safety is a shared global responsibility requiring international cooperation, as no country can address these challenges alone.

UNCTAD’s forthcoming Handbook on Consumer Product Safety will provide practical guidance to help countries implement the principles.

Fairer food systems and digital markets

Participants discussed how competition law and policy can help address mounting pressures on food systems, including rising prices, supply chain disruptions and increasing concentration across food value chains.

They also highlighted the need for greater capacity-building to better demonstrate and communicate the benefits of effective competition policy.

Discussions further underscored the growing challenges posed by digital markets and cross-border commerce, highlighting the need for regulatory frameworks and stronger cooperation mechanisms that keep pace with technological change while preserving consumer trust and promoting innovation.

International cooperation matters more than ever

At a time of growing economic uncertainty and fragmentation, participants reaffirmed the importance of multilateral dialogue and peer learning in addressing challenges that no country can tackle alone.

The meetings also marked the launch of the Voluntary Peer Review of Consumer Protection Law and Policy of Argentina, which provides recommendations to further strengthen the country’s consumer protection framework while supporting the exchange of good practices among member states.

“For our country, completing this process marks a milestone in consumer protection. It represents a major step forward in strengthening our consumer protection system,” said Fernando Blanco Muiño, undersecretary for consumer protection and fair trade of Argentina.

Participants highlighted the value of UNCTAD’s analytical work, technical assistance and voluntary peer reviews in strengthening institutions and delivering better outcomes for consumers and businesses.

UNCTAD will continue supporting member states through analytical work, technical assistance and intergovernmental dialogue to help countries build fairer, more resilient and more inclusive markets.

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