 |
ACTION PLAN
D. GENERAL ACTION
Other areas which should be given consideration in implementing the Consumer Policy and creating a greater national awareness of consumerism:
- The Ministry should engage in dialogue and consultation with manufacturers, distributors, retailers and service bodies with a view to developing codes of practice to provide acceptable business operations and consumer redress;
- The Government should give equal consultative status to consumer groups in formulating national policies and programmes, as that given for social, economic and other groups;
- The Government should initiate the formation of a Consumer Policy at regional level at the next Heads of CARICOM Governments to be held in July 1996;
- In light of trade liberalization, there should be a mechanism for monitoring and influencing the prices of pharmaceuticals, school text books and basic essential items;
- The establishment of testing facilities to monitor on a regular basis, pesticide residues on produce for local consumption as well as for export should be given priority. Additionally such monitoring should be extended to marine and fresh water environments;
- International guidelines should be adopted and where necessary, legislation introduced, to ban substances known to be dangerous to human health, especially those which adversely affect the reproductive capacity of women and the development of children;
- Government should encourage and create conditions which will lead to the minimal use of chemical pesticides. Government's existing bio-control and research programmes should be expanded to encompass a comprehensive, integrated pest management strategy as an alternative to chemical pesticide usage;
- The formulation of any disaster preparedness programmes should stipulate clear guidelines and measures to ensure the fair and equitable distribution of essential goods and services;
- Steps should be taken to protect manufacturers, distributors. and retailers from false claims by the consumer.
< Return to the Table of Contents
|
