India to chair UNCTAD Consumer Protection session in Geneva
Synopsis
India takes the chair at UNCTAD's premier consumer protection forum in Geneva — a role that puts Secretary Nidhi Khare at the centre of global deliberations on the newly adopted UN Principles for Consumer Product Safety and cross-border enforcement. It is a quiet but consequential signal of India's ambition to shape multilateral consumer governance, not just comply with it.
Key Takeaways
India will chair the ninth session of the UNCTAD Intergovernmental Group of Experts (IGE) on Consumer Protection Law and Policy in Geneva on 7 July 2025 .
Nidhi Khare , Secretary of Consumer Affairs, will preside over the two-day session as Chairperson.
The session will see the formal launch of the UN Principles for Consumer Product Safety , adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2025 .
Agenda covers sustainable consumption, cross-border consumer protection, and enforcement of consumer protection law in global markets.
India previously highlighted its National Consumer Helpline (NCH) and pre-litigation model at the 9th UN Conference on Competition and Consumer Protection in July 2025 .
India will chair the ninth session of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts (IGE) on Consumer Protection Law and Policy, convened by United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD) at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on Monday, 7 July 2025, according to a statement from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs. The two-day deliberation brings together member states, international organisations, consumer protection authorities, and academia to address emerging global consumer protection challenges.
India's Role at the Session
India will be represented by Nidhi Khare, Secretary of Consumer Affairs, who has been personally invited by UNCTAD to preside over the session. As Chairperson, she will guide discussions among member states on key global consumer protection priorities across the two-day programme.
This marks a significant diplomatic recognition of India's growing stature in international consumer protection governance. The IGE, constituted under the United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection (UNGCP), serves as the principal intergovernmental platform for cooperation and dialogue in this domain.
Key Highlights of the Session
A centrepiece of the meeting will be the formal launch of the United Nations Principles for Consumer Product Safety, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2025. India is set to participate in a high-level fireside chat titled 'Why the Principles Matter', signalling its active engagement beyond the chair role.
Other agenda items include discussions on the implementation of the UNGCP by member states, consumer information and education, sustainable consumption, enforcement of consumer protection law in global markets, and cross-border consumer protection frameworks. The session will also review recent legal and institutional developments and adopt a provisional agenda for the next meeting.
India's Track Record in Consumer Protection Diplomacy
India has been steadily building its international profile on consumer affairs. At the Ninth United Nations Conference on Competition and Consumer Protection, held in Geneva in July 2025, the Department of Consumer Affairs shared India's experience in cross-border consumer dispute resolution. That presentation highlighted the National Consumer Helpline (NCH) and its pre-litigation convergence model — a mechanism that resolves disputes before they escalate to formal legal proceedings.
Notably, this is the second consecutive year that India has played a prominent role at UNCTAD's consumer protection forums in Geneva, reflecting a deliberate strategy to shape global norms from within multilateral institutions.
What Comes Next
The session is expected to conclude with the adoption of a formal report and a provisional agenda for the tenth IGE session. Outcomes from the Geneva deliberations — particularly around the new UN Principles for Consumer Product Safety — are likely to inform domestic policy updates and cross-border enforcement cooperation frameworks in the months ahead.
Point of View
Which India has been showcasing internationally, could well become a template for developing economies seeking affordable dispute resolution. What mainstream coverage misses is the domestic dividend: international norm-setting gives the Ministry of Consumer Affairs political cover to accelerate reforms at home, citing multilateral consensus. The real test will be whether Geneva outcomes translate into enforceable cross-border mechanisms — or remain aspirational text.
NationPress
5 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is India chairing the UNCTAD IGE session on Consumer Protection?
India has been invited by UNCTAD to chair the ninth session of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Consumer Protection Law and Policy, recognising its active role in international consumer protection discussions. Secretary Nidhi Khare of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs will preside over the two-day meeting in Geneva on 7 July 2025.
What is the UNCTAD Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Consumer Protection?
The IGE is the principal intergovernmental platform under UNCTAD for dialogue and cooperation on consumer protection law and policy, constituted under the United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection (UNGCP). It brings together member states, international organisations, consumer authorities, and academia to deliberate on emerging global consumer issues.
What are the UN Principles for Consumer Product Safety?
The UN Principles for Consumer Product Safety are a set of guidelines adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2025, aimed at strengthening product safety standards globally. Their formal launch is a key agenda item at the ninth IGE session in Geneva.
What is India's National Consumer Helpline and why is it significant internationally?
The National Consumer Helpline (NCH) is India's pre-litigation consumer dispute resolution mechanism, which connects aggrieved consumers with companies before cases reach formal courts. India highlighted this model at the 9th UN Conference on Competition and Consumer Protection in Geneva in July 2025, positioning it as a replicable framework for cross-border dispute resolution.
What outcomes are expected from the Geneva session?
The session is expected to adopt a formal report and a provisional agenda for the next IGE meeting. Deliberations will cover sustainable consumption, cross-border consumer protection, and enforcement of consumer protection law in global markets, with outcomes likely to shape domestic and international policy frameworks.
