Corporations denounced for bid to block media access to social responsibility summit

Consumers International

Consumer groups outraged as business lobby seeks to silence media on corporate social responsibility

The world federation of consumer organisations, Consumers International (CI), today called on the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) to resist corporate pressure to ban media reporting of its Social Responsibility summit in Lisbon, Portugal, 15-19 May.

Consumers International and other ISO stakeholder groups are outraged that the business lobby is forcing the ISO to block press access to the main debates. The situation is all the more shocking because the weeklong talks are aimed at creating the first global standard on Social Responsibility. Accessible, transparent information is an essential part of this principle, as well as a core consumer right.

A forthcoming Consumers International report into the marketing practices of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies shows just how important transparency is to Social Responsibility. Old Habits Die Hard: a consumer perspective on Corporate Social responsibility, Drug Promotion and the Pharmaceutical Industry will be published this coming June.

The report raises concerns about drug company funding of patient groups, disease-awareness campaigns, internet discussion forums, and other thinly veiled marketing ploys dressed up as Social Responsibility initiatives. It finds a staggering lack of transparency from drug companies about these practices, and argues consumers are being misinformed about the benefits and applicability of pharmaceutical products.

The report's findings are a clear signal of the need for transparency in the Social Responsibly process. But if the creation of the ISO Social Responsibility standard itself is not transparent, industry will continue to hold transparency in poor regard. Transparency begins at home and the ISO must resist pressure from the business lobby and allow full media access to the debate on Social Responsibility in Lisbon.

Richard Lloyd, Director General of Consumers International, said:
"Big businesses love to tell anyone who'll listen just how socially responsible they are. Yet when it comes to media access to discussions on a global guideline for Social Responsibility, they slam the doors shut. By restricting media access to decision-making, the ISO sends a message to everybody that transparency is not an issue that needs to be taken seriously. This is an irony that won't be lost on consumers."

Note

1. Consumers International (CI) is the global federation of consumer organisations dedicated to the protection and promotion of consumer's rights worldwide through empowering national consumer groups and campaigning at the international level. It currently represents over 230 organisations in 113 countries. www.consumersinternational.org

2. Consumers International represents consumer organisations on the ISO SR WG and we will be campaigning at the ISO SR event in Lisbon. More information about our work and policy position can be found at www.consumersinternational.org/csr