Code of Conduct of Civic Consumer Organizations

Code of Conduct of Civic Consumer Organizations

Preamble

Civic consumer organizations’ mission is to protect justified interests and rights of consumers that arise from laws and good morals. This Code of Conduct unifies civic consumer organizations so they can protect and promote independently, transparently and responsibly the basic rights of consumers and their responsibility towards sustainable consumption.
The signatories of this Code of Conduct consider a consumer any person who does not act on behalf of his or her trade or other business activity when demanding goods and services.

I. The signatories of the Code of Conduct

  1. The signatory of this Code of Conduct can be a non-governmental non-profit organization, which:
    a) was established according to law no. 83/1990 Coll. on association of citizens, law no. 248/1995 Coll. on public benefit organizations or law no. 227/1997 Coll. on foundations and endowment funds;
    b) has achieving of goals aimed at protection of consumer interests stated in its statutes or articles;
    c) carries out activities, adopts positions and acts exclusively in favor of consumers, their rights and interests;
    d) does not act on behalf of private interests of organization’s representatives and avoids financial or personal connection with business subjects where it could lead to conflict of interests;
    e) may not be influenced in its acts by acceptance of resources, advantages or other forms of assistance from subjects, with whom the connection could arise in a possible conflict of interests;
    f) is not connected to any political party;
    g) publishes its Annual report together with detailed financial summary;
    h) may not disseminate advertisement (except on products offered by the organization itself and other non-profit bodies) that could interfere with the spirit of this Code of Conduct.
  2. The signatory commits to accept investigations of the Ethical Committee including controls of activities and accounts.
  3. The signatory can use in its activities the information of being a signatory of the Code of Conduct on condition of stating Internet address of the register of signatories.
  4. Meeting of signatories is arranged to vote members of the Committee and possible amendments of this Code of Conduct. The amendments can be approved by 2/3 majority of the signatories.

II. Ethical Committee

  1. With up to seven signatory organizations the Ethical Committee has three members, five members with more organizations. Decisions are made on the majority principle with at least 70 % members’ participation. Discussions of the Ethical Committee are open to representatives of signatory organizations who have advisory vote.
  2. Members of the Ethical Committee are elected by signatory organizations from among candidates proposed by the organizations. Election period is one year. Elections take place each year, by-elections as necessary in case of abdication or other reason for termination of service of present Committee member. The first Ethical Committee is elected from among organizations that showed interest in becoming signatories of the Code of Conduct.
  3. The Ethical Committee entrusts one of its member with summoning and leading its meetings. If necessary it can arrange a meeting of signatories.
  4. It monitors compliance with Code of Conduct’ rules, approves new signatories, discusses their expulsion and manage the register of signatories making it accessible for general public via the Internet.
  5. In case of infringement of the Code of Conduct, discovered by the Committee upon information from signatory or third person, the Committee initiates without delay a proceeding on expulsion of the signatory during which it discusses the infringement with the signatory. In case of minor infringement the Committee sets a period, maximum of three months, for remedy. In case of major infringement the Committee decides on expulsion of the organization.

III. Signing the Code of Conduct

  1. Organization interested in becoming a signatory sends the Ethical Committee information proving fulfillment of points stated in part I. point 1.
  2. The Ethical Committee will discuss received documents within three months after their delivery. If necessary it will ask for additional information from the applicant including investigation according to part I. point 2.
  3. The Ethical Committee then decides on acceptance of accession to the Code of Conduct or on non-acceptance and ensures update of the register.

In Prague on September 19th 2003

Signatories