Consumer Protection Agencies

1. Consumer Protection Agencies

2. FederalTradeCommission (FTC) • Government’s most aggressive official in rooting out fraud, violations of consumer’s privacy and deceptive marketing/advertising • Enforces federal antitrust and consumer protection laws • Enforces labeling and trade violations from overseas • Does not act on individual complaints; it looks for a pattern of complaints and decides which ones to investigate • Regulates telemarketers • http://directmag.com/news/marketing_trans_union_loses/ BTE 330

3. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) • Food (other than meat, poultry, & egg products) • Human drugs • Medical devices • Biologics • Animal feed and drugs • Cosmetics • Radiation-emitting products • News Story BTE 330

4. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) • Agriculture • Food safety/labeling—meat, poultry, & egg products • Marketing and regulatory programs • Natural resources & environment, including maintaining our national forests • Research, education and economics • Overseeing programs such as Food Stamps, School Breakfast & Lunch Programs • Local Cooperative Extension Service BTE 330

5. Consumer ProductSafety Commission (CPSC) • An independent agency; it doesn’t report to any other federal department • Basic function is to protect consumers against injuries and deaths associated with consumer products • Develops voluntary industry standards • Bans consumer products • Recalls products • Conducts research on potential product hazards • Informs and educates consumers BTE 330

6. Department of Justice (DOJ) • Antitrust Division • Sherman Antitrust Act – deals with restraint of trade and monopolies • Clayton Act – prevents discrimination in price, services or facilities • Wilson Tariff Act – imports and fairness of trade BTE 330

7. Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) • Investor’s advocate • Watches out for fraud & deception in the securities market • Provides investor education • Oversees stock exchanges, broker-dealers, investment advisors, mutual funds, & public holding companies • http://www.sec.gov/news/press/2007/2007-255.htm BTE 330

8. Federal Citizen Information Center (FCIC) • One-stop source for consumer information • Free Consumer Information Catalog • Publications on topics such as cars, child care, education, federal benefits, money management, food, health, housing and travel BTE 330

9. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) • Protects human health • Safeguards the natural environment • Develops & enforces regulations that implement environmental laws enacted by Congress • Performs environmental research • Provides environmental education BTE 330

10. U. S. Department of Energy •  Overarching mission is to: • Advance the national, economic, and energy security of the United States • Promote scientific and technological innovation in support of that mission • Ensure the environmental cleanup of the national nuclear weapons complex BTE 330

11. National Highway TrafficSafety Administration (NHTSA) • Responsible for reducing deaths, injuries and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes • Sets and enforces safety performance standards on motor vehicles • Investigates safety defects in motor vehicles • Sets and enforces fuel economy standards • Provides consumer information on motor vehicle safety topics. BTE 330

12. Better Business Bureau(BBB) • Nonprofit organization supported by local business members • Dispute resolution • Consumer and Business Education • Charity review • Don’t judge or rate products, handle employer/employee wage disputes, or give legal advice BTE 330

13. Illinois Attorney General • Protect consumers • Advocate for all citizens, especially women, children, and senior citizens • Preserve the environment • Help crime victims • Build better charities • MethNet BTE 330

14. THE END BTE 330