Consumer Policy for Trinidad and Tobago

PRINCIPLES AND PRIORITIES OF CONSUMER POLICY:

A. PROTECTION OF CONSUMER HEALTH AND SAFETY

1. Principles
1. Goods and packaging services offered to consumers must be such that, under normal or foreseeable conditions of use, they present no risk to the health or safety of consumers. There should be quick and simple procedures for withdrawal from the market in the event that risks are discovered;
2. Consumers should, at all times, be informed in an appropriate manner of any risk, liable to result from a foreseeable use of goods and services, taking account of the nature of the goods and services and of the persons for whom they are intended. Such risks should be stated clearly on the label and/or service, instructions (written in English) should accompany the product;
3. The consumer must be protected against physical injury and disease caused by defective products and services supplied by manufacturers of goods and providers of Services;
4. Manufacturers must use good quality material throughout their production processes;
5. The receiver of goods and services must be informed in the language the receiver can understand and, wherever possible, vital safety information should be conveyed to consumers by internationally understandable symbols;
6. Consumers should be able to make effective choices through the availability of an adequate supply of goods and services;
7. Machines, appliances, electrical or electronic equipment, and any other category of goods which may adversely affect the health and safety of consumers, either in themselves or by their use, should be covered by special rules and be subject to a procedure recognized or approved by the government, such as type approval or declaration of conformity with international standards or regulations, to ensure that they are safe for use.
2. Priorities
1. To review national standards and regulations for product safety and quality to ensure that they conform to generally accepted international standards
2. to promulgate the necessary standards and regulations for the following categories of products and services:
   • consumer durables;
   • cars and all components;
   • textiles (flammability);
   • toys;
   • dangerous substances, e.g. chemicals and hazardous materials, fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides;
   • foodstuffs including preparation, storage and sales;
   • materials coming into contact with foodstuff'
   • LPG, CNG - containers and contents;
   • cosmetics;
   • detergents;'
   • veterinary products and animal feed;
   • licensing and accreditation of medical, chemical, food, drug and other testing
   • domestic electrical appliances;
   • human space requirements;
   • furniture and woodwork;
3. To ensure the availability of facilities to test and certify the safety, quality and performance of essential consumer goods and services.
4. To ensure that internationally accepted food standards and regulations are implemented to protect consumers

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