Plans for an international network of marketing supervision agencies emerged from a 1991 conference of EU and EFTA consumer enforcement bodies held in Copenhagen on the initiative of the Danish Consumer Ombudsman. Following up on that initiative, participants at a 1992 meeting in London hosted by UK's Office of Fair Trading agreed to a Memorandum on the Establishment and Operation of the IMSN which formally established the International Marketing Supervision Network.

Purpose

The main objective of the IMSN is to facilitate practical action to prevent and redress deceptive marketing practices with an international component. The Network fosters cooperative efforts to tackle consumer problems connected with cross-border transactions in both goods and services. It facilitates the exchange of information among the participants for mutual benefit and understanding. Matters concerning the regulation of financial services and product safety are outside the Network's remit, as is the procurement of specific redress for individual consumers.

Operations

While primarily intended to facilitate informal cooperation between member organizations, the Network meets as a group twice a year in the country which holds the Presidency. The Presidency is responsible for hosting these conferences and maintains a list of network contacts. Conferences are conducted in English and French, with simultaneous translation. Informal contacts between Network members are frequent, and concern a host of issues related to cross-border disputes. Belgium holds the 1998-99 presidency. Past presidents include Ireland (1997-98), Canada (1996-97), Austria (1995-96), Sweden (1994-95), France (1993-94) and the United Kingdom (1992-93).