The Government consumer protection agencies of the partner countries of the Pacific Alliance (the National Consumer Service of Chile, the Superintendency of Industry and Commerce of Colombia, the National Institute for the Defense of Competition and the Protection of Industrial Property of Peru and the Federal Consumer Attorney’s Office of Mexico) within the framework of the Ibero-American Government Consumer Protection Agencies Forum, which took place in Bogotá, Colombia on August 28, 2014, met to exchange views with the competent authorities of each country, as well as exploring feasibility in order to promote the creation of a Consumer Protection Subgroup. The attendees showed great interest to actively participate and support the proposal of Mexico.

In that year (2014) Mexico held the Pro-Tempore Presidency of the Pacific Alliance and as part of the Work Plan in October, the Federal Consumer Attorney’s Office presented the Technical Group of Services and Capitals (GTSC, by its acronym in Spanish), the initiative to form a working group to develop projects in favor of consumer rights. The consumer protection agencies of the other countries expressed their interest and support through their representatives in the GTSC. The GTSC submitted for the consideration of the High Level Group (GAN, by its acronym in Spanish) the initiative to form an independent working group that would be integrated by the protection agencies of each country of the Pacific Alliance. The GAN agreed to create a Consumer Protection Subgroup that will not be held independently, but under the coordination of the GTSC.

• Recognize that Consumer Rights are fundamental Human Rights inherent to all people.
• Commercial Opening and Product Suitability.
• Development of New Technologies and Growth of Services.
• The Internet, Automated Technology and Mobile Information Systems.
• The Evolution of Advertising.
• Promotion of fair, equitable, sustained economic and social development.

• Promote a minimum framework for the protection of consumer rights.
• Promote the recognition of the consumer rights as Human Rights.
• Encourage the commitment of government institutions responsible for protecting the rights of consumers.
• Encourage regional cooperation for the protection of consumers in the member countries of the Pacific Alliance.
• Promote that consumer relations taking place in the member countries are carried out under the principles accepted in the region.
• Seek balance in consumer relations.
• Promote the modification of national legislations in order to standardize the principles and offer the same level of protection to all consumers, regardless of the country where they are located.
• Promote responsible consumption in the individual, social and environmental spheres.
• Encourage producers and distributors in different countries to act under an ethical code in favor of consumers.

The foregoing is intended to promote the protection of the consumer rights in the region, through the promotion of a minimum framework for the protection of these rights. In addition, to encourage regional cooperation for the protection of consumers in the member countries of the Alliance; promote that consumer relations that take place in the member countries are carried out under the accepted principles in the region and seek the necessary balance in consumer relations.

The importance of promoting fair, equitable, sustained economic and social development and with a view to consumer protection is also recognized. Reaffirming that in order to improve the lives of people, a greater awareness of the consumers rights and greater demands for their respect are necessary.

There is a growing complexity in the products and services offered, that product differentiation makes comparisons more difficult and that Internet commerce has given rise to new forms of fraud. These complexities oblige national governments to establish public policies, plans, guidelines and jurisdictional mechanisms that effectively protect the consumer rights.