Vote: Consumer Affairs

This Document is Archived

Output Expense > Policy Advice and Support on Consumer Issues

This output expense provides policy advice and information on issues, policies and programmes affecting or potentially affecting the ability of consumers to transact with confidence. The outputs included in this output expense for 2007/2008 contribute to achieving the following business outcomes: Promoting dynamic and trusted capital markets; and Empowering consumers.

The outputs are:

• Consumer Policy - which relates to providing policy advice on issues concerning an effective legal and regulatory framework for business/consumer transactions.
• 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.
• Motor Vehicle Sales Act 2003 (MVSA) - which relates to the promotion, education and evaluation of the effectiveness of the MVSA.

This output expense is a part of a multi-class output appropriation in conjunction with Promotion and Enforcement of Measurement and Product Safety Infrastructure.

Service Performance

Output activities under this output expense will be delivered as agreed with the Minister and as detailed in the Ministry of Economic Development Output Plan in 2007/2008.

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 Expense - Policy Advice and Support on Consumer Issues

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

This output expense 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. This output expense is a part of a multi-class output appropriation in conjunction with Policy Advice and Support on Consumer Issues.

Measurement

This output involves educating and informing consumers and businesses regarding legislative requirements and good measurement practice; investigating and resolving measurement complaints from consumers and business; 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 OIML and the Asia-Pacific Legal Metrology Forum (APLMF) to enhance the credibility of the New Zealand measurement system.

Service Performance

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

Quantity

• Surveillance visits will be made to 400 (400) traders to check the correctness of weighing and measuring equipment and pre-packaged goods. Information and advice also may be provided to improve compliance as necessary and promote good measurement practice. These visits are in addition to checks and maintenance completed by Accredited Persons under the provisions of the Weights and Measures Act 1987 administered by the Ministry.
• Participate in the development of 10 (10) recommendations/documents by the International Organisation of Legal Metrology (OIML).

Quality

• Maintain 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.

Service Performance

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

Quantity

• Surveillance visits will be made to 300 (300) traders/suppliers to check product safety. Information and advice also may be provided to improve compliance and promote product safety as necessary.

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 Expense - Promotion and Enforcement of Measurement and Product Safety Infrastructure

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