Zambia’s Experience in Strengthening Cross Border Cooperation Brian M. Lingela Director Consumer Protection Competition & Consumer Protection Commission ZAMBIA 24/9/2019 Zambia's Experience in Strenghtening Cross Border Cooperation
Presentation Overview Rationale For Cross Border Collaboration Rationale for Cooperation Zambia’s Experience in Strengthening Cross Border Cooperation Challenges Inhibiting Cross Border Cooperation Addressing Challenges of Cross Border Cooperation 24/9/2019 Zambia's Experience in Strenghtening Cross Border Cooperation
Rationale For Cross Border Cooperation Advancements in technology Technology has erased borders making it more imperative for states to cooperate. Internet has facilitated globalization of markets and growth of e- commerce. Growing importance of digital economy: mobile technology and social media a game changer. Online shopping on domestic and international platforms, increased consumer choice and access to products and services. 24/9/2019 Zambia's Experience in Strenghtening Cross Border Cooperation
Informal international consumer Terms & Conditions Working protection agency network on Group initialised by Turkish information sharing, international Presidency cooperation 27 ICPEN members joined forces for joint action on App stores to Apple & Google Joint enforcement actions to Improvements in app layout & combat cross border issues transparency on consumer data Coordinated by UK, NT, GE, SW, First African ICPEN Presidency PE, HU,US,NO, ZM 2018-2019 24/9/2019 Zambia's Experience in Strenghtening Cross Border Cooperation
ICPEN Internet Sweep Project Marketing Practices Directed at Children in Digital Age-WG Dark Nudge- Consumer choice Impact of digital marketing on manipulation for behavioural change children 22 ICPEN members Report presented to ICPEN Conference Livingston 2019 1760 websites searched, 429 NO, AU, BE, CO, FI, GE, HU, SW, flagged UK For future work, collaboration is 3 African countries, RSA, Morocco, key Eswatini & COMESA CC joining Coordinated by CMA-UK 24/9/2019 Zambia's Experience in Strenghtening Cross Border Cooperation
Zambia’s Experience in Cross Border Cooperation International Networks: IGE On Consumer Protection Exchange of information on international consumer protection & best practices Working Groups on E-Commerce, Consumer Vulnerability, cross border collaboration 24/9/2019 Zambia's Experience in Strenghtening Cross Border Cooperation
Zambia’s Experience in Cross Border Cooperation Regional Networks: African Dialogue on Consumer Protection : Informal network of 25 African consumer agencies with US-FTC for information sharing on best practices Monthly webinars, annual conferences (2019) in Zambia Livingstone African Dialogue Principles on Consumer Enforcement Cross Border Cooperation-2013 Current Projects: Sharing complaints data- Trend analyses of common complaints in Africa 2019 Internet Sweep on disclosure of Ts & Cs in E-Commerc 24/9/2019 Zambia's Experience in Strenghtening Cross Border Cooperation
Zambia’s Experience in Cross Border Cooperation Formal Bilateral Cooperation Arrangements : MoUs, facilitating sharing of information, skills, experiences and capacity building. MoUs with: The COMESA Competition Commission Competition and Fair Trading Commission in Malawi National Consumer Commission of South Africa Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional draft MoU Livingstone Principles on International Enforcement Cooperation African Dialogue Each MoU has an implementation framework with established joint working committees to ensure effective implementation of agreed strategies, initiatives, areas of cooperation. Facilitates exchange of information, expertise, investigations 24/9/2019 Zambia's Experience in Strenghtening Cross Border Cooperation
Zambia’s Experience in Cross Border Cooperation Informal cross border cooperation efforts : Informal means of cooperation- direct contact with agencies. Regional and international contacts have been effective and a quicker way of exchanging investigative information. Nigerian Federal Competition & Consumer Commission-Pay TV Eswatini Competition & Consumer Authority-Retail sector Republic of Botswana- General complaints handling system Competition & Fair Trading Commission Malawi- Retail Competition Authority of Kenya Informal cooperation efforts have proven to be more useful in: building mutual trust among the staff of relating consumer protection authorities. Quick exchange of information when demand arises 24/9/2019 Zambia's Experience in Strenghtening Cross Border Cooperation
Zambia’s Experience in Cross Border Cooperation Staff Exchange Programme/Benchmarking Exchange information & staff capacity building In 2015, CCPC Staff hosted by the US FTC as an International Fellow. New CCPC Fellow expected to US FTC in 2020 Since 2010, CCPC has hosted 27 investigative staff & some Commissioners From Botswana, Namibia, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Malawi, Sudan, Djibouti Seychelles Exchange of best practices 24/9/2019 Zambia's Experience in Strenghtening Cross Border Cooperation
Challenges Inhibiting Cross Border Cooperation Divergence in existing national consumer protection laws. The US Safe Web Act is an important best practice Protection of Confidential information restricts the extent to which countries can exchange information. Sometimes, even non confidential information is hard to get Reliance on non binding frameworks without accountability Competing domestic priorities of agencies often dictates the level of assistance that an agency would provide Limited trust for online platforms, Kasama Tractor Case 24/9/2019 Zambia's Experience in Strenghtening Cross Border Cooperation
Strategies to Strengthen/Promote Cross Border Cooperation Appropriate legal frameworks protecting online/digital consumers. New E-commerce Bill underway in Zambia Reaffirm commitments to cross border cooperation. Cooperation requires inclusive participation and implementation by participating parties Identify areas of divergence and convergence in the laws for more targeted cooperation efforts Continue to develop joint projects for agencies to share information & investigative assistance. Current ICPEN joint projects facilitate discussions among agencies Strengthen informal cooperation efforts where formal efforts are a challenge Use of non confidential information 24/9/2019 Zambia's Experience in Strenghtening Cross Border Cooperation
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