Belgische Vereniging voor Onderzoek en Expertise voor Consumentenorganisaties (BV-OECO)

The Belgische Vereniging voor Onderzoek en Expertise voor Consumentenorganisaties (BV-OECO) is a non-profit association dedicated to supporting consumer organizations in Belgium. We provide a collaborative platform for our member organizations, sharing technical knowledge and expertise on consumer-related matters. Our role includes representing the diverse viewpoints of our members in various advisory committees at both European and national levels. At the European level, we participate in the European Consumer Consultative Group and ANEC. On the federal level, our involvement spans multiple committees, including the brc Verbruik, Commission for Insurance, Council for Intellectual Property, brc Unfair Terms, Advisory Committee for Telecommunications, Home Copy Advisory Committee, Auto Tariff Bureau, Natural Disasters Tariff Bureau, Bureau for Standardization, High Council for Standardization, Federal Council for Sustainable Development, Advisory Committee of the FAVV, Advisory Committee of the FAGG, Committee for the Awarding of the European Ecolabel, Advisory Council on Food Policy and Use of Other Consumer Goods, NAPAN, CREG, and Etitex. Regionally, we are active in Pôle Environnement, Collège des Producteurs, CWEDD, L’Observatoire du Crédit et de l’Endettement, Raad Leefmilieu BHG, Raad van Gebruikers van Elektriciteit en Gas van het BHG, SALV, Minaraad, and SamVzw. Our mission encompasses conducting in-depth reports on consumer themes addressed in these advisory committees. We also undertake independent studies on current topics and provide support to consumer organizations with their inquiries. BV-OECO serves as a bridge to government agencies, ensuring that our member organizations have access to comprehensive information regarding consumer rights, along with the necessary support and networking opportunities. Our team comprises: Jan Velghe, a sociological researcher focusing on financial literacy, responsible money management, and sustainable consumption. Billy-Ray Muraille, a biomedical scientist specializing in safety and health. Abigaël Laame, a lawyer with expertise in consumer law. Leen De Cort, our coordinator. Given our primary task of supporting our members, we do not publish extensively on these themes ourselves. However, we organize up to one public activity per year. Notable events include the conference on "Insurance in the Sharing Economy" held on September 28, 2017, and the conference on "Digital Divide and Digital Rights" on November 17, 2022. For inquiries, please contact Leen De Cort, General Secretary of BV-OECO, at Koning Albert II Laan 16, 1000 Brussels, or via email at [email protected] .