Consumer Policy for Trinidad and Tobago

PRINCIPLES AND PRIORITIES OF CONSUMER POLICY:

Principles

The consumer should be protected from risks to life or to health arising from environmental damage, hazardous waste disposal, air, water, noise or land pollution, whether such risks arise from private acts or acts of the State;
There is an integral link between human development, the sustainable use of natural resources and environmental protection. Development which promotes the wise use of natural resources is integral to the sustainable well being of the environment;
Consumers are instrumental in enforcing environmentally and socially friendly industrial development.Access to information about the quality of the environment in which we live, will promote and sustain this process.

Priorities

To institute appropriate measures to ensure the safe production, use, storage and disposal of products and toxic materials which are harmful to human health and the environment;
To promote policies which will encourage the production of environmentally friendly products and the use of environmentally sound technologies in industry, agriculture and waste management;
To eliminate from the environment, substances (e.g. carcinogens and lead) which have particularly adverse effects on people, especially women and children;
To disseminate widely information on environmental and developmental issues, and to promote the establishment of an effective consumer lobby;
To promote the use of alternate and renewable energy resources.