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Tokyo, Japan, January
23, 2003 - Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) (Chairman:
Nobuo Yamaguchi), Japan Direct Marketing Association (JADMA) (Chairman:
Kenji Ikemori), Electronic Commerce Promotion Council of Japan (ECOM)
(Chairman: Fujio Cho, President of Toyota Motor Corporation) have established
Asia Trustmark Alliance (ATA) with Korea Institute for Electronic Commerce
(KIEC), Commerce Trust Limited (CTL) in Singapore, and Secure Online
Shopping Association (SOSA) in Taipei, Taiwan by signing the Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU), in which the four countries will closely cooperate
on the Online Trustmark programs and dispute resolution systems.
Under the Alliance
the four countries will mutually recognize the member countries' national
Trustmark programs and cooperate on cross-border consumer complaint
handlings. More clearly, by this alliance Japanese consumers will be
able to
1) know the businesses awarded the national Trustmarks are as trustworthy
as the ones awarded the Japanese Trustmark; and
2) file a complaint against the business in the member countries to
Internet Shopping Dispute Resolution Office operated by ECOM which then
refers the complaint to the appropriate dispute resolution organization.
The Alliance is
expected to enhance safety and consumer trust in cross-border online
transactions.
Note 1: Trustmark
program
The Trustmark program is a system in which applying businesses which
meet certain standards and requirements are awarded Trustmark to be
displayed on their websites to show their trustworthiness and having
appropriate consumer protection measures.
In Japan JADMA and JCCI have operated the program since June 2000 and
awarded 640 businesses. The similar programs are operated by KIEC, which
was established pursuant to the Framework Act on Electronic Transaction
of Korea, in Korea, by CTL in Singapore and by SOSA in Taiwan.
Note 2: Trustmark
program and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
The accredited businesses are required to participate in the Alternative
Dispute Resolution system when consumers wish to resolve disputes through
the system.
Internet Shopping Dispute Resolution Office established by ECOM in November
2000 to address disputes that arise from online transactions has assisted
consumers and businesses resolve their disputes on a neutral and impartial
ground through its escalating programs; Advice, Mediation and Arbitration.
For information,
contact:
ECOM
Consumer Protection Working Group
Research Director
Eigo Yoshioka
Phone: +81.3.3436.7500
Fax: +81.3.3436.7570
URL: www.ecom.jp or http://www.ecom.jp/ecom_e/index.html
E-mail: info@ecom.jp
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