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• Vote: Consumer Affairs

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Output Class > Policy Advice and Support on Consumer Issues

This output class provides policy advice and information on issues, policies and programmes affecting or potentially affecting the ability of consumers to transact with confidence. The following outputs are included in this output class for 2006/2007.

• Consumer Policy - which relates to providing policy advice on issues concerning an effective legal and regulatory framework for business/consumer transactions. Key areas of focus include:
  • advising government on emerging consumer issues and international consumer policy developments;
  • progressing changes to the Fair Trading Act 1986, including any proposed changes arising from a review of consumer enforcement and redress law;
  • implementing the recommendations of the review of the operation of the Motor Vehicle Sales Act 2003, related to amending the Act and associated regulations;
  • continuing work towards harmonising trans-Tasman consumer law with Australian government consumer agencies;
  • reviewing the role of government in assisting industry to develop and operate effective industry-led regulatory schemes; and
  • providing advice on the role of consumer law in promoting a competitive and well-functioning marketplace and innovative firms.
• Consumer Research, Information and Capability Building - which relates to researching key consumer issues, providing information to consumers, community agencies and businesses with respect to their legal rights and obligations, and the promotion of effective consumer representation. Key areas of focus include:
  • contributing to trans-Tasman work to prevent consumer fraud, including researching New Zealand consumer experience and behaviour in respect of non-investment type scams;
  • participating in international fora including those that address issues of international deceptive practices targeting New Zealand consumers;
  • promoting the value of the representation of consumer interests on decision-making bodies;
  • capability building to enable communities and community organisations to identify and address consumer issues;
  • reviewing the effectiveness of consumer policy and legislation through systematic monitoring and evaluation, with a particular focus in 2006/2007 on monitoring the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003; and
  • funding the Powerswitch comparative information facility for domestic electricity consumers.
• Motor Vehicle Sales Act 2003 (MVSA) - this output involves promotion, education and evaluation of the effectiveness of the MVSA. Particular focus in 2006/2007 will be placed on ongoing monitoring of the effectiveness of the MVSA, and on promotions targeted at raising public awareness of aspects of the Motor Vehicle Sales Act 2003.

Service Performance

Policy advice will be delivered as agreed with the Minister and as detailed in the Ministry of Economic Development Output Plan.

Generic quantity, quality and timeliness performance measures for all policy advice, Ministerial services and briefings supplied by the Ministry of Economic Development are detailed in Quality Standards for Policy Advice and Ministerial Servicing.

Costs: Output Class - Policy Advice and Support on Consumer Issues

Output Class > Promotion and Enforcement of Measurement and Product Safety Infrastructure

This output class provides for the promotion and enforcement of a supportive measurement and product safety infrastructure for businesses and consumers, particularly through the administration of the Weights and Measures Act 1987 and the product safety provisions of the Fair Trading Act 1986.

Service Performance

Where appropriate, comparative figures for the previous year are shown in parentheses.

Measurement and Product Safety

• Measurement - this output involves:
  • implementing the recommendations made from the review of the Trade Measurement Accreditation Scheme;
  • managing New Zealand's trade measurement environment to meet international standards in relation to goods sold by weight, measure or number; and
  • participating in the activities of inter-governmental organisations dealing with legal metrology, including the International Organisation of Legal Metrology (OIML) and the Asia-Pacific Legal Metrology Forum (APLMF) to enhance the credibility of the New Zealand measurement system.
  • Quantity
    • Surveillance visits will be made to 400 (400) traders to check the correctness of weighing and measuring equipment and pre-packaged goods.
    • Participating in the development of 10 (10) recommendations/documents by the OIML.
  • Quality
    • Maintaining a type approvals regime that ensures measuring instruments do not facilitate fraud, by complying with ISO 17025 accreditation and OIML recommendations.
  • Timeliness
    • Timeframes set by the OIML for reply on each circulated draft recommendation and document will be met in all cases.
• Product Safety - this output involves providing product safety services including:
  • developing and reviewing relevant voluntary and mandatory consumer safety standards, and contributing to the development of consumer safety policies;
  • educating and informing consumers and businesses about consumer product safety;
  • investigating and resolving consumer product safety complaints;
  • administering the mandatory powers provisions of the Fair Trading Act 1986;
  • building and maintaining national and international consumer product safety networks; and
  • contributing to the interdepartmental injury prevention activities through the New Zealand Injury Prevention Strategy Steering Group.
  • Quantity
    • Surveillance visits will be made to 300 (300) traders/suppliers to check product safety.
  • Quality
    • All investigations of product safety complaints will be carried out in accordance with the Measurement and Product Safety Service Complaints and Procedures Manual.
  • Timeliness
    • 95% (95%) of complaints will be acknowledged within seven (seven) working days of receipt of notification.

Costs: Output Class - Promotion and Enforcement of Measurement and Product Safety Infrastructure