Latvia Consumer association

Consumer Information and participation – interactive Communication with Consumers on Food Safety and Quality.: 

Consumer Information and participation – interactive Communication with Consumers on Food Safety and Quality. Marija Zeltina Member of Latvian National Consumer Right Protection Association Consil Bulgaria, Plovdiv April 11-12, 2005.

Contain: 

Contain About Latvian National Consumer Right Protection association and NGO possibilities Analysis of survey concerning cooking oils.

About Latvia Consumer Right protection association.: 

About Latvia Consumer Right protection association. During the development of market economy in Latvia a new non-governmental movement - consumers' rights protection - has appeared. Consumer Clubs and Societies from all over Latvia united to form the Latvian National Association for Consumer Protection (PIAA). The founder members are regional consumer clubs from towns - Riga, Jurmala, Rezekne, Latgale region, Jelgava and Ogre, and tenants associations from Liepaja. The Association is an independent non-governmental umbrella-organization, which works nationally to extend and protect consumer rights in Latvia, as well as to co-ordinate the work of local and regional groups. Latvian National Association for Consumer Protection is a big step forward to development of non-governmental consumer protection organizations and consumers' protection movement in Latvia, becoming most important representative of consumers interest of the country on a national and international level. The foundation of the Association was made possible by strong influence from European consumer organizations and a one-year grant from the Nordic Council within a project "The Support for Establishment of a National Level Non-governmental Consumer Protection organization in Latvia". After the foundation of the national Association in 1999, new regional organizations were established, so that today PIAA consists of 11 regional organizations - ten consumer protection clubs and one tenants' association:

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Club for Protection of Consumer Interests; Consumer Protection Club "PIKS"; Consumer Protection Club of Jelgava; Consumer Protection Club of Rezekne; Latgale Region Consumer Protection Centre; Consumer Rights Protection Club of Daugavpils; Cesis District Consumer Protection Club "Aizstavis"; Consumer Rights Protection Organization of Ogre; Tenants Association of Liepaja; Consumer Protection Centre "Preili"; Consumer Protection Club of Gulbene

The growing regional network is a result of the insight, shared by the majority of regional and local clubs, that joining the forces in a national association is the best way for small regional groups to influence the consumer policy of the country and to develop modern instruments of consumer information, advice and education.Members of Associations are a strong and enthusiastic team, united in order to purposefully plan and co-ordinate consumers' protection network in Latvia.PIAA member organizations are independent legal entities that are operating as complaints-handling and campaigning agencies, carrying out small investigative studies, representing consumers on consultative bodies and working with the government institutions on legislation, and education and information programs. There is much goodwill and practical co-operation between the government sector and the voluntary organizations.: 

The growing regional network is a result of the insight, shared by the majority of regional and local clubs, that joining the forces in a national association is the best way for small regional groups to influence the consumer policy of the country and to develop modern instruments of consumer information, advice and education. Members of Associations are a strong and enthusiastic team, united in order to purposefully plan and co-ordinate consumers' protection network in Latvia. PIAA member organizations are independent legal entities that are operating as complaints-handling and campaigning agencies, carrying out small investigative studies, representing consumers on consultative bodies and working with the government institutions on legislation, and education and information programs. There is much goodwill and practical co-operation between the government sector and the voluntary organizations. The growing regional network is a result of the insight, shared by the majority of regional and local clubs, that joining the forces in a national association is the best way for small regional groups to influence the consumer policy of the country and to develop modern instruments of consumer information, advice and education. Members of Associations are a strong and enthusiastic team, united in order to purposefully plan and co-ordinate consumers' protection network in Latvia. PIAA member organizations are independent legal entities that are operating as complaints-handling and campaigning agencies, carrying out small investigative studies, representing consumers on consultative bodies and working with the government institutions on legislation, and education and information programs. There is much goodwill and practical co-operation between the government sector and the voluntary organizations.

PIAA and its member organizations dealt with 5132 consumer complaints in Year, majority of which referred to consumer law (41.1%), rent and utilities (20.5%), various services (14.2%), various goods (8.8%), electrical appliances (4.9%), footwear (3.9%), food (3.6%) and other products/services.Members of Association represent consumers in several committees and councils: nationally in Food Council, Energy Consumers Committee, Standardisation Committee, local municipalities, etc., and internationally in European Consumer Consultative Group in Brussels (Mrs. Silvia Viksnina) and European Consumer Voice in Standardisation ANEC (Mrs. Lilia Stelpe)Since 2004 Association is a member of European Consumer Organisation BEUC.PIAA has set itself the following broad goals: : 

PIAA and its member organizations dealt with 5132 consumer complaints in Year, majority of which referred to consumer law (41.1%), rent and utilities (20.5%), various services (14.2%), various goods (8.8%), electrical appliances (4.9%), footwear (3.9%), food (3.6%) and other products/services. Members of Association represent consumers in several committees and councils: nationally in Food Council, Energy Consumers Committee, Standardisation Committee, local municipalities, etc., and internationally in European Consumer Consultative Group in Brussels (Mrs. Silvia Viksnina) and European Consumer Voice in Standardisation ANEC (Mrs. Lilia Stelpe) Since 2004 Association is a member of European Consumer Organisation BEUC. PIAA has set itself the following broad goals:

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to co-ordinate the work of non-government organizations working for the consumer in Latvia to educate consumers about their rights and obligations in buying goods, using services and protecting the environment to ensure that consumers have the information they need to make rational choices to protect the economic interest of consumers to protect consumers from damage or danger to health, property or life to become actively involved in reviewing consumer complaints, mechanisms for resolving them, and proposals for improving means of redress to publicize instances of unsafe or fake products and of deceptive selling practices.

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Association informs society about consumer protection on different mass media. Association provides legal advice to consumers in case their rights have been violated. One step in the direction of professional support for consumer advice activities is the consumer self-information system, which has been elaborated with the technical support of AgV under the PHARE programme and placed in all regional advice offices of PIAA in September 2000. It consists of 7 information files for the direct use by consumers, covering consumer rights, public utilities, footwear, textiles, cosmetics, tourism, fruit and vegetables. The Estonian experiences and Estonian expertise have been used in the process of elaboration of the Latvian information system. Association regularly organizes educational seminars for representatives of regional consumers' protection clubs, thus developing capacity of regional consumer advice-giving services. In 2003 Association's member organizations attended DG SANCO workshop "Enforcement of Consumer Protection" in Helsinki; in 2004 - BEUC Training Courses and 7th Annual Assembly of Consumer Associations in Brussels. Our difficulties and pluses.

A Study of Food OilsAnalysis of survey results“Latvijas Fakti”October 2004: 

A Study of Food Oils Analysis of survey results “Latvijas Fakti” October 2004 CONTENTS I. Technical information II. The main conclusions III. Analysis of survey results

Technical information about the surveyThe respondents: On the basis of a process of random stratification, the survey team selected 1,000 permanent residents of Latvia who were between 15 and 74 years old. The stratification was based on:A) Geographic considerationsB) National considerationsThe cohort was selected on the basis of the latest statistical data about the Latvian population.: 

Technical information about the survey The respondents: On the basis of a process of random stratification, the survey team selected 1,000 permanent residents of Latvia who were between 15 and 74 years old. The stratification was based on: A) Geographic considerations B) National considerations The cohort was selected on the basis of the latest statistical data about the Latvian population. .

The method: The survey was conducted through the method of direct (face-to-face) interviews at the place of residence of each respondent. The places of residence of respondents were selected on the basis of random routes. Respondents were selected with the help of the Kish method. Interviews were conducted by 62 interviewers from “Latvijas Fakti”. The instructions which interviewers issued and the quality of their work were examined by five regional supervisors in the “Latvijas Fakti” network of interviewers. Interviews were conducted in Latvian and Russian.: 

The method: The survey was conducted through the method of direct (face-to-face) interviews at the place of residence of each respondent. The places of residence of respondents were selected on the basis of random routes. Respondents were selected with the help of the Kish method. Interviews were conducted by 62 interviewers from “Latvijas Fakti”. The instructions which interviewers issued and the quality of their work were examined by five regional supervisors in the “Latvijas Fakti” network of interviewers. Interviews were conducted in Latvian and Russian.

The schedule: All of the interviews took place between October 18 and October 25, 2004. The method: The survey was conducted through the method of direct (face-to-face) interviews at the place of residence of each respondent. The places of residence of respondents were selected on the basis of random routes. Respondents were selected with the help of the Kish method. Interviews were conducted by 62 interviewers from “Latvijas Fakti”. The instructions which interviewers issued and the quality of their work were examined by five regional supervisors in the “Latvijas Fakti” network of interviewers. Interviews were conducted in Latvian and Russian.The schedule: All of the interviews took place between October 18 and October 25, 2004.: 

The schedule: All of the interviews took place between October 18 and October 25, 2004. The method: The survey was conducted through the method of direct (face-to-face) interviews at the place of residence of each respondent. The places of residence of respondents were selected on the basis of random routes. Respondents were selected with the help of the Kish method. Interviews were conducted by 62 interviewers from “Latvijas Fakti”. The instructions which interviewers issued and the quality of their work were examined by five regional supervisors in the “Latvijas Fakti” network of interviewers. Interviews were conducted in Latvian and Russian. The schedule: All of the interviews took place between October 18 and October 25, 2004.

The main conclusions Nearly two-thirds (65.6%) of survey respondents said that when they purchase cooking oil, it is important for them to know whether genetically modified materials have been used in the production of the oil. A total of 36.7% of respondents said that this information is very important, while 28.9% of respondents said that it is fairly important. A bite more than one-quarter (26.4%) of respondents said that information about whether genetically modified materials are used in the production of oil is fairly or completely unimportant. : 

The main conclusions Nearly two-thirds (65.6%) of survey respondents said that when they purchase cooking oil, it is important for them to know whether genetically modified materials have been used in the production of the oil. A total of 36.7% of respondents said that this information is very important, while 28.9% of respondents said that it is fairly important. A bite more than one-quarter (26.4%) of respondents said that information about whether genetically modified materials are used in the production of oil is fairly or completely unimportant.

The view that this information is important in the selection of cooking oils was stated more frequently by respondents with a higher education, by respondents in the 25-64 age group, by respondents whose financial situation is better than average, by women, by respondents who are responsible in their families for everyday shopping, and by respondents with children aged 15 or younger. The group in the cohort which was least likely to say that information about whether genetically modified materials have been used in the production of oil is of importance was the youngest group (those aged 25 or younger).: 

The view that this information is important in the selection of cooking oils was stated more frequently by respondents with a higher education, by respondents in the 25-64 age group, by respondents whose financial situation is better than average, by women, by respondents who are responsible in their families for everyday shopping, and by respondents with children aged 15 or younger. The group in the cohort which was least likely to say that information about whether genetically modified materials have been used in the production of oil is of importance was the youngest group (those aged 25 or younger).

A dominant majority (76.9%) of respondents said that they had never seen labels on food oils which indicate that “this product has been produced from genetically modified materials.” Only 11.5% of respondents had ever noticed labels with this kind of information.Asked whether they would choose oils that are or oils that are not produced with genetically modified resources, the majority (67.5%) of respondents said that they would choose oils that do not contain such resources. : 

A dominant majority (76.9%) of respondents said that they had never seen labels on food oils which indicate that “this product has been produced from genetically modified materials.” Only 11.5% of respondents had ever noticed labels with this kind of information. Asked whether they would choose oils that are or oils that are not produced with genetically modified resources, the majority (67.5%) of respondents said that they would choose oils that do not contain such resources.

Nearly all of these respondents (82.6%, or 55.7% of all respondents) would choose the aforementioned option even if the oil without genetically such resources. Only 5.2% of respondents would select an oil which does include genetically modified resources.When asked to name the kinds of agricultural products from which oil that is known as “plant oil” is produced, respondents mentioned sunflowers (51.6%), rapeseed (41.9%), mixtures of various products (31.3%), olives (22.8%) and soybeans (17.5%). Fewer than 10% of respondents mentioned other products.: 

Nearly all of these respondents (82.6%, or 55.7% of all respondents) would choose the aforementioned option even if the oil without genetically such resources. Only 5.2% of respondents would select an oil which does include genetically modified resources. When asked to name the kinds of agricultural products from which oil that is known as “plant oil” is produced, respondents mentioned sunflowers (51.6%), rapeseed (41.9%), mixtures of various products (31.3%), olives (22.8%) and soybeans (17.5%). Fewer than 10% of respondents mentioned other products.

III. Analysis of survey results Question: When you buy cooking oil, how important is it for you to know if it includes genetically modified materials?: 

III. Analysis of survey results Question: When you buy cooking oil, how important is it for you to know if it includes genetically modified materials?