International Organisation of Consumers Unions
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| Founded | 1960 |
|---|---|
| Type | Charity No. 1122155 |
| Focus | Consumer protection |
| Location |
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| Origins | Formerly the International Organisation of Consumers Unions |
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Area served
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Global |
| Method | Campaigning |
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Members
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250 |
| Website | www |
Consumers International is the membership organisation for consumer groups around the world. Founded on 1 April 1960, it has over 250 member organisations in 120 countries. Its head office is based in London, England, with regional officers in Latin America, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa.
Consumers International is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, company number 04337865 and registered charity number 1122155.
The organisation was first established in 1960 as the International Organisation of Consumers Unions (IOCU) by national consumer organisations who wanted to create cross-border campaigns and share knowledge.
IOCU was founded by Elizabeth Schadee, who would later chair the board of the Netherlands' Consumentenbond, and Caspar Brook, who was the first director of the United Kingdom's Consumers' Association. The two proposed an international conference to plan for consumer product testing organisations worldwide to work more closely together. The United States organization Consumers Union provided US$10,000 at the request of Colston Warne to help fund the event.
In January 1960, these three organisations sponsored the First International Conference on Consumer Testing in The Hague. Thirty-four people representing seventeen consumer organisations in fourteen countries attended to discuss product testing and founding the International Organisation of Consumers Unions as an international organisation.Belgium's Association des Consommateurs and the Australian Consumers' Association joined the three conference sponsors as the five founding organisations who became the international organisation's initial council.
Consumers International has over 250 member organisations in 120 countries. These members are independent consumer organisations.
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