Gordon Renouf Director, Policy and Campaigns CHOICE, Australia

1. Promoting Greater Awareness and Use of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational CorporationsResponding to Consumer Aspirations Gordon Renouf Director, Policy and Campaigns CHOICE, Australia

2. To increase the impact of the Guidelines ... • Better correspond to consumer aspirations • More precise content • Complementary action by government

3. Chapter VII has a narrow focus ... • Fair business practices • Quality and safety of products

4. … but consumer aspirations are much broader • Dimensions of consumer welfare • Present → future • Individual → Communal • Physical → social, cultural and ethical

5. … examples of aspirations • Financial system/services that protect future interests • Good quality community services • Easier to make ethical and sustainable choices

6. The sustainable choices gap • Survey limitations • Barriers to action • availability • functionally equivalent products • trusted claims • acceptable prices • … supported by social norms

7. Action on Guidelines • expectation to act consistent with consumers' long term interests • expectation to meet consumers' aspirations • provide information on ethical and social features of products (Cl VII-2)

8. Action beyond Guidelines • Choice limits • Increase market size (procurement, incentives) • Trusted information • consensus on ethical issues • certification/labelling • enforcement • Promote social norms

9. Conclusion • Recognise consumers' aspirations and long term interests • Recognise issue of availability of functionally equivalent products • Improvements to text of guidelines • Government action complementary to guidelines

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11. Thank you