Standardization and the participation of consumers in developing standards processes

Standard means regulation on technical characteristics and management requirements used as standard for classifying and appraising products, goods, services, processes, the environment and other objects in socio-economic activities with a view to improving the quality and effectiveness of these objects. Standard will accord further with the market when it can resolve the concerns of consumers and consumers can engage in standards developing processes. Consumer preferences, social issues and trade agreements are directing the expansion of working programs related to standards to make the participation of consumers becoming more essential.

With the aim of raising awareness and building the capacity of consumer associations and organizations in Vietnam on standards and standardizations, so that they can participate more actively and effectively in the standardization processes, then they can use quality assured and friendly environmental goods and services, CUTS Hanoi Resource Center, in collaboration with Vietnam Standards and Consumers Association (VINASTAS), with the support of SESA programme “Trade promotion through standardization in the South and Southeast Asia regions”, funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sida and under the management of the Swedish Standards Institute, SIS, organized two training workshops on “Standardization and the participation of consumers in developing standards processes” in Hai Phong City during 20th – 21st August, 2015, and Nha Trang City during 1st – 2nd October, 2015. The training workshops were held successfully with the numerous participations of representatives of consumer associations in South and North Vietnam.

Presentations of the Training Workshops:

• Nhung van de co ban ve tieu chuan va tieu chuan hoa
• Hoat dong tieu chuan hoa cua the gioi
• Hoat dong tieu chuan hoa cua Viet Nam
• Vai tro va Su tham gia cua cac ben lien quan vao qua trinh xay dung tieu chuan
• Su tham gia cua nguoi tieu dung vao qua trinh xay dung tieu chuan
• De xuat giai phap tang cuong su tham gia cua nguoi tieu dung vao xay dung tieu chuan

The Digital Economy: Potential Benefits, Challenges and Implications for Regulations

Today, the rise of the Internet, Big Data, computer algorithms, artificial intelligence, and machine learning all promise to benefit our lives. On its surface, the online world – with the growth of price comparison websites, dynamic pricing, web promotions and smartphone apps – seems to deliver a great deal in terms of lower prices, improving quality, widening the selection of goods and services, and accelerating innovation. At the same time, it has also raised scepticism in the mind of several on issues such as cybersecurity, online privacy, data protection, liability, job losses, etc.

The Digital Economy has come to be known as an incubator for new-age businesses, which are based on disruptive technologies and innovative business models. Despite their immense successes, a number of such businesses have found themselves in turmoil. Due to the disruptive nature of such businesses, the regulatory bodies often find it difficult to regulate such entities, and may end up applying archaic regulations, which may hamper the growth of these digital enterprises. The unabatable advances of technological change, resulting in drastic changes in consumer preferences, habits, the nature of business competition, and business infrastructure also means traditional businesses could get marginalised or even displaced en masse.

On 30 August 2017, in cooperation with the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), CUTS International organised an international workshop on this topic of “The Digital Economy: Potential Benefits, Challenges and Implications for Regulations”. Noted speakers from CUTS, VCCI, the Vietnam E-Commerce and Information Technology Agency (VECITA), Vietnam Competition and Consumer Authority (VCCA), the Philippines Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), the Institute for International Trade and Development (ITD), Thailand, along with renowned lawyers, consumer representatives, and businesses, convened and discussed various issues pertinent to the development of the Digital Economy in Vietnam, the ASEAN region and beyond.

At this workshop, a project entitled “Regional Inclusive Growth Project” (Diginomics – I), to be implemented by CUTS International in three countries, i.e. India, the Philippines and Vietnam in 18 months till the end of 2018 was also launched. This project is aimed at highlighting the need tostrengthen the digital economy in these three countries, by showcasing best practices from across sectors and geographies regarding the benefits brought to consumers by digital platforms and technologies; as well as identifying and advocating for the removal of whereas bottlenecks and barriers to the growth of the digital economy.

Presentations of the Workshops:

• Agenda
• Welcome remarks_Mr. Vo Tan Thanh
• Opening remarks_Mr. Pradeep S. Mehta
• The Digital Economy as Catalyst for Inclusive Growth_Ms. Pham Que Anh
• Trends in International Rule-Making for the Digital Economy_Mr. Simon Lacey
• Luat Canh Tranh va Thuong mai dien tu_Ms Tran Chi Anh
• Inclusive with Disruptive Innovation Growth Need for Optimising Regulations_Mr. Rohit Singh
• The need for new age regulations for new age businesses-The case of Mobile Application-Based E-Hailing in the Philippines_Mr. Francis Quimba
• Vietnam’s policies to support cross-border E-commerce_Ms. Le Thi Ha
• Consumer Data in Digital Economy-Related issues_Mr. Ho Tung Bach
• Optimising regulation reponses to promote inclusive growth under disruptive innovation_Ms. Duangthip Chomprang

Report:

• Event Report

News:

• http://livechannel.vn/past-live/nen-kinh-te-so-loi-ich-va-tiem-nang/
• https://cuts-hrc.org/hcmc-workshop-discusses-digital-economy/