International forums

The Commission participates in several international forums that discuss competition and consumer protection issues:

International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN)

ICPEN, formerly known as the International Marketing Supervision Network (IMSN), is an informal network of national fair trading law enforcement agencies from more than 30 countries, most of which are members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

The mandate of the network is to share information about cross-border commercial activities that may affect consumer interests, and to encourage international cooperation among law enforcement agencies. The members share a database on fair trading laws in member jurisdictions and can access complaints from around the world on the econsumer.gov website (see Links in the Related documents box). The network also conducts regular international internet sweep days to generate important information for enforcement agencies in targeting unscrupulous internet traders, and serves as a reminder that the internet is not an unpoliced forum for trading.

The network operates under a rotating presidency, held by the Commission for 2002–03.

For more information visit the ICPEN website (see Links in Related documents).

International Competition Network (ICN)

The ICN is a competition authority forum devoted exclusively to competition law enforcement. The ICN aims to find solutions to the challenges of globalisation: competition law is national, however commerce is increasingly global. The focus of the network is on improving collaboration between competition law enforcement bodies to improve competition law enforcement and administration in the global marketplace to benefit consumers and businesses.

Membership of the ICN is voluntary and open to any national or multinational competition authority entrusted with the enforcement of antitrust laws. The Commission was a founding member of the ICN in 2001. 

Anti-Cartel Enforcement Template

This template is intended to provide information for the ICN member competition agencies about each other’s legislation concerning hardcore cartels. At the same time the template supplies information for businesses participating in cartel activities about the rules applicable to them; moreover, it enables businesses which suffer from cartel activity to get information about the possibilities of lodging a complaint in one or more jurisdictions.

Reading the template is not a substitute for consulting the referenced statutes and regulations. This template should be a starting point only.

For more information on the ICN visit its website (Links in Related documents).

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

The OECD has several policy committees that undertake work directly relevant to the interests of the Commission.

On competition issues the Commission participates in discussions in the Competition Committee, its associated working groups, and the Joint Group on Trade and Competition. Well-designed competition law, effective law enforcement and competition-based economic reform promote increased efficiency, economic growth and employment for the benefit of all. OECD work on competition law and policy actively encourages decision-makers in government to tackle anti-competitive practices and regulations and promotes market-oriented reform throughout the world. For more information on the competition policy work of the OECD visit its website (Links in Related documents).

On consumer protection issues, the Commission participates in the work of the Committee on Consumer Protection (CCP) which seeks to ensure the highest standards of safety, fairness and transparency worldwide, focusing on cross-border consumer transaction issues. The CCP works to promote efficient markets, product safety and truthful marketing practices. For more information on the consumer protection policy work of the OECD visit its website (Links in Related documents).

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

The Commission is committed to assisting developing nations to achieve effective competition and consumer protection regimes and to develop their own culture of competition in the interests of developing more competitive and fair overseas markets and improving access for Australian exporters to those markets.

Many of the Commission’s activities in this area are being facilitated through UNCTAD which organises training programs and conferences targeted at the needs of developing countries. The Commission contributes to UNCTAD’s activities by making available its resources and expertise in competition, consumer protection and utility regulation.

For further information on the competition policy activities of UNCTAD visit its website (Links in Related documents). 

The World Trade Organisation (WTO)

In recognition of the close links between competition policy and trade, the WTO Working Group on the Interaction between Trade and Competition Policy (WGTCP) was established at the Singapore Ministerial Conference in December 1996 to consider issues raised by members relating to the interaction of these two policy fields.

Work has so far focused on the:

  • relationship between the objectives, principles, concepts, scope and instruments of trade and competition policy

  • stocktake and analysis of existing instruments, standards and activities for trade and competition policy, including experience with their application

  • interaction between trade and competition policy.

More specifically, recent work of the WTO on competition policy has focused on the following aspects of the Doha Declaration which stated:

Interaction between Trade and Competition policy

23. Recognizing the case for a multilateral framework to enhance the contribution of competition policy to international trade and development, and the need for enhanced technical assistance and capacity-building in this area as referred to in paragraph 24, we agree that negotiations will take place after the Fifth Session of the Ministerial Conference on the basis of a decision to be taken, by explicit consensus, at that Session on modalities of negotiations.

24. We recognize the needs of developing and least-developed countries for enhanced support for technical assistance and capacity building in this area, including policy analysis and development so that they may better evaluate the implications of closer multilateral  cooperation for their development policies and objectives, and human and institutional development. To this end, we shall work in cooperation with other relevant intergovernmental organisations, including UNCTAD, and through appropriate regional and bilateral channels, to provide strengthened and adequately resourced assistance to respond to these needs.

25. In the period until the Fifth Session, further work in the Working Group on the Interaction between Trade and Competition Policy will focus on the clarification of:  core principles, including transparency, non-discrimination and procedural fairness, and provisions on hardcore cartels;  modalities for voluntary cooperation;  and support for progressive reinforcement of competition institutions in developing countries through capacity building.  Full account shall be taken of the needs of developing and least-developed country participants and appropriate flexibility provided to address them.

For further information on the WTO, please visit its website (Links in Related documents)

Specific information on the Commission’s international consumer protection functions can be found by clicking on What we do in the Related topics box.

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