The ASEAN Committee on Consumer Protection (ACCP) launched the Regional Information Campaign (RIC) focused on addressing the issues of dark patterns and deceptive designs in e-Commerce. This campaign is designed to educate about the schemes used by some online platforms to influence consumer behavior, often leading to unintended purchases or disadvantageous decisions. The RIC aims to raise awareness of these deceptive practices, empowering consumers to make more informed choices and protect their rights while shopping online. Join us in spreading the word and ensuring a safer online environment for everyone!

The ASEAN Guidelines on Unfair Contract Terms (UCT Guidelines) was developed with the support of the Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and was published on 13 June 2024. The guidelines outline key principles, best practices, recent regulatory developments, and enforcement strategies to aid consumer protection authorities in ASEAN Member States (AMS) to support the adoption of diverse policies, legal provisions, and procedures for managing and regulating unfair contract terms (UCT) in consumer contracts.

The guideline comprises several crucial components which include key terms and principles, offering clear definitions for standard B2C contract terms that are considered fair, made in good faith, and transparent. It also lists blacklisted terms that should always be regarded as unenforceable. Additionally, the guideline includes a section on enforcement and education, providing recommendations for consumer protection authorities to collaborate with other entities, such as competition authorities, consumer associations, and the private sector, to share responsibilities and resources.

This Philippine Halal Industry Development Strategic Plan 2023-2028 built on the approved Philippine Halal Export Development and Promotion Board (Halal Board) roadmap in November 2017.

This Plan is a result of a series of consultative meetings, workshops, and conferences, which took place between November 23, 2023, until January 10, 2024

“The Regional Report on Needs and Gaps of Consumer Dispute Resolution in ASEAN was developed with the support of the Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and was published on 30 September 2023. This regional report aims to provide information and analysis as a baseline to assist ASEAN Member States (AMS) in further developing their respective
consumer dispute resolution and redress mechanisms.

The regional report contains an analysis of the similarities and differences among consumer dispute resolution and redress mechanisms in ASEAN. It also identifies any remaining gaps and suggests areas for improvement, towards the long-term vision of having in place effective redress mechanisms within and across all AMS to deal with both domestic and cross-border consumer disputes.

The ASEAN Guidelines on Consumer Impact Assessment (CIA) were endorsed on January 2023 and were expected to support consumer protection authorities in ASEAN Member States (AMS) in systematically assessing the impacts of policies, laws, and/or regulations on consumers, their rights, and legitimate interests. This, in turn, would contribute to a stronger anchoring of consumer perspectives in national policies, laws, and/or regulations, in a similar manner as such mainstreaming is foreseen at the regional level.

The application of a CIA methodology in policymaking is also aligned with the ASEAN High-Level Principles on Consumer Protection (AHLPCP), specifically Principle No. 6 on the promotion of consumer advocacy, which entails accounting for consumer views and representation by governments before decisions are taken on relevant industrial, trade and social policy issues.

The ASEAN Guidelines on Consumer Protection in E-Commerce (henceforth “Guidelines”) were developed by the ASEAN Committee on Consumer Protection (ACCP), in consultation with the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on E-Commerce and Digital Economy (ACCED). In formulating the Guidelines, the prevalent context in the ASEAN Member States (AMS) as well as international good practices from different jurisdictions both within and outside of ASEAN were considered. References are further made to relevant strategic documents, sectoral plans or work programmes guiding actions under the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint 2016-2025.

The Guidelines are intended as a soft law instrument that provides orientation for policy- and decisionmakers in AMS in advancing the consumer protection agenda within the context of e-commerce and the wider digital economy. In putting forward general principles and practices as options for AMS to consider, the Guidelines are non-binding and do not impose any legal obligation on AMS.

The Philippine Rubber Industry Roadmap 2023-2028 is a result of various consultations and dialogues with the rubber industry stakeholders from the private and government sectors. This is a successor plan of the Philippine Rubber Industry Roadmap 2017-2022.

In the face of the advancing digital economy, Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) systems are gaining in
importance around the world. This trend is underpinned by the demand to create cost-efficient and
convenient mechanisms that employ digital technologies to expand and expedite consumer
access to redress, particularly with respect to low-value or smaller claims.

These Guidelines are a testament to the legitimacy and importance of consumer associations – and the consumer movement, more broadly – as an element of democratic societies and fair market economies.

In accordance with the United Nations Guidelines on Consumer Protection (UNGCP), governments in ASEAN are encouraged to create an enabling environment for the work by consumer associations so they are able to cater to consumers in need of assistance.

Under the ASEAN Strategic Action Plan on Consumer Protection (ASAPCP) 2016- 2025, the ASEAN Committee on Consumer Protection (ACCP) implements voluntary peer reviews as one of the contributions towards a common consumer protection framework.

The Philippines, through the Department of Trade and Industry – Consumer Protection Group (DTI-CPG), is the first member of the ACCP to undergo the Peer Review.  The Peer Review aimed to assess the country’s current consumer protection laws and benchmark with the best practices in the region.

The assessment covered a wide range of aspects in the following areas: (i) Policy Formulation; (ii) Advocacy; (iii) Monitoring and Enforcement; and (iv) Redress. The assessment noted significant efforts by the DTI including the regular conduct of advocacy initiatives that increased consumer awareness of their rights and responsibilities, as well as the “No Wrong Door” policy initiative, which enabled DTI to resolve 99.19% of complaints received in 2020.

Several recommendations were identified in the Report including the need to amend the Consumer Act of the Philippines (CAP) to encourage consumers to proactively protect themselves and the pursuance of a National ODR Network, which is currently in the works known as the Philippine Online Dispute Resolution System (PODRS). The assessment reported that the Philippines stands well-equipped in protecting and safeguarding the rights and welfare of its consumers.

It documents the Philippine art motifs found in traditional arts and crafts that could serve as inspiration for new designs and product implementation.

The annual search recognizing the outstanding Filipino retailers who have epitomized the model of a successful retailer in terms of growth and good ethical business practices.

Discusses about Philippine Overseas Construction Board (POCB), its functions, mandate and 1978-2016 projects

This publication showcases the DTI’s frontline services.

DTI’s initiated communication plan to engage its external and internal public.