For Release: July 20,
2000 United States and Australia Sign Two Agreements
to Enhance Cooperation on Consumer Protection Matters
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Australian Competition and Consumer
Commission (ACCC) announced today that representatives of both commissions have signed two
agreements to facilitate enhanced law enforcement cooperation in the consumer protection
area between the United States and Australia. The agreements were announced at a workshop
on Consumer Protection in Electronic Commerce at the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC) meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, on July 20.
With the emergence of the Internet, consumers are engaging in cross-border transactions
more extensively than ever, and there is consequently a greater need for cross-border law
enforcement cooperation, as acknowledged in the OECD Guidelines on Consumer Protection in
Electronic Commerce. These two agreements will enable both parties to better combat
fraudulent, misleading and unfair commercial conduct in each other's jurisdiction.
The first agreement -- the FTC-ACCC Cooperation Agreement ("cooperation
agreement")-- provides for enhanced cooperation and information sharing between the
FTC and ACCC. The cooperation agreement will strengthen ties between the two nations on
consumer protection matters and enhance cross-border cooperation in the consumer
protection area. The cooperation agreement is a "best efforts" agreement that
does not require legislative changes in either country. Its purpose is to increase law
enforcement assistance between the U.S. and Australia.
The cooperation agreement includes three key provisions:
- Notification of Enforcement Activities: The FTC and ACCC will use their
best efforts to notify each other of consumer protection enforcement activities that might
affect the agencies' mutual interests.
- Cooperation and Coordination: The agencies will use their best efforts,
where appropriate, to assist each other in gathering information and coordinating law
enforcement activities.
- Exchange of Information: The agreement encourages the exchange of
consumer protection information for law enforcement purposes consistent with each
country's statutes and rules.
The second agreement -- the Consumer Sentinel Agreement -- permits the ACCC to
participate in the FTC's Consumer Sentinel system, a database of consumer complaint data
which is already used by over 250 law enforcement agencies. The ACCC will be able to
obtain and enter information, strengthening the ability of both Australia and the United
States to prosecute consumer fraud. This is the second country with which the FTC has
entered into such an agreement; the Commission has already approved the sharing of
information with Canadian law enforcement agencies.
The Federal Trade Commission vote to approve the agreements was 5-0.
A copy of the
cooperation agreement is available on the ACCC's web site: http://www.accc.gov.au. Copies of both agreements are
available from the FTC's web site at http://www.ftc.gov
and also from the FTC's Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20580; 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357); TDD for the hearing impaired
1-866-653-4261. To find out the latest news as it is announced, call the FTC NewsPhone
recording at 202-326-2710.
- MEDIA CONTACT:
- Eric London
- FTC Office of Public Affairs
- 1 202-326-2180
- Lin Enright
- ACCC
- 61 2 6243 1108
- STAFF CONTACT:
- Michael Donohue
- FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection
- 1 202-326-3563
- Elizabeth Douglass
- International Unit, ACCC
- 61 2 6243 1135
(http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2000/07/usaccc.htm) |
Related
Documents Agreement
Between the Federal Trade Commission of the United States of America and the Australian
Competition & Consumer Commission On the Mutual Enforcement Assistance in Consumer
Protection Matters
Agreement Between the Bureau of Consumer
Protection of the Federal Trade Commission and the Australian Competition & Consumer
Commission Concerning Consumer Sentinel Network Confidentiality.
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