Idec - Instituto Brasileiro de Defesa do Consumidor (Brazilian Institute for Consumer Defense) - is a Brazilian non-profit consumer organization, founded in 1987. It has no ties with any corporations, governmental entities or political parties. Idec's main objectives are to contribute to: the balance of market relationships; to the enforcement and enhancement of consumer's legislation; to promote a better quality of life, especially regarding access to and quality of services and products; to improve the standards of sustainable consumption; and to strength democracy, by stimulating citizen awareness and participation. For Idec, the concept of consumer is not restricted to those who participate in the market, exercising their purchasing power, but also those who can not access to essential goods and services, because of their lack of purchasing power.

The Institute conducts studies and research, promotes campaigns, and mobilizes public opinion and pressures companies and governments in order to improve consumer relations in the country. It also participates in national and international forums that define public policies in the area of consumer relations. It publishes a monthly magazine, Revista do Idec, information on its website (www.idec.org.br), and numerous other publications.

Idec is maintained mainly by its members (persons only) - 70% of it was revenue of annual fees and donations paid by members and cover the majority of the costs of Idec’s basic activities and the work of its legal, administrative, technical and editorial departments. Idec also develops projects that enable the organization to broaden the scope of its work with the support of national and international funding agencies:

• The Inter American Development Bank – IADB (www.iadb.org)
• The Ford Foundation – FF (www.fordfound.org)
• Oxfam Novib  (www.oxfamnovib.nl)
• World Resources Institute – WRI  (www.wri.org)
• SOMO (Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations) (www.somo.nl)
• The Federal Fund for Diffuse Rights / Ministry of Justice CFDD/SDE/MJ (http://www.mj.gov.br/cfdd)

IDEC is a full member of Consumers International (www.consumersinternational.org), sitting on the current elected council and the executive committee, representing the Latin American and Caribbean countries. It is member of the National Forum for Non Governmental Consumer Organisations (www.forumdoconsumidor.org.br), created in June 1998 and represents consumer interests on numerous boards and committees.

The list presented below shows some of the committees, forums, and others spaces of social participation where Idec represents the consumers:

FORUMS

• FNECDC - Fórum Nacional de Entidades Civis de Defesa do Consumidor
• CI - Consumers International
• OCLAC - Organização de Consumidores da América Latina
• FNSA - Frente Nacional de Saneamento Ambiental
• Campanha "Por um Brasil Livre de Transgênicos”
• Rede IBFAN para Alimentação Infantil
• ABONG - Associação Brasileira de Organizações Não-Governamentais
• FBOMS - Fórum Brasileiro de ONGs e Movimentos Sociais para o Meio Ambiente e Desenvolvimento
• REBRIP - Rede Brasileira para Integração dos Povos
• Red Puentes - visão da sociedade civil sobre responsabilidade social empresarial
• ACT - Aliança de Controle do Tabagismo
  

COMMITTEES AND COUNCILS

• CONMETRO - Conselho Nacional de Normalização, Metrologia e Qualidade Industrial (National Board of Standards, Measurements and Industrial Quality)
• CBAC - Comitê Brasileiro de Acreditação e Certificação – INMETRO
• CONMETRO - CCAB - Comitê Codex Alimentarius do Brasil
• CONMETRO - CCAB - GT de Rotulagem
• CONMETRO - CPCON (Comissão Permanente de Consumidores do CONMETRO)
• Conselho de Acreditação - Conselho da CGCRE/Inmetro
• CFDD - Conselho Federal do Fundo Federal de Direitos Difusos
• ABNT - Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas - GT sobre norma de responsabilidade social
• ANVISA - Conselho Consultivo
• ANVISA - Câmara Setorial de Medicamentos
• ANVISA - Câmara Setorial de Alimentos
• Comitê Nacional para Promoção do Uso Racional de Medicamentos
• Comissão de Produtos Orgânicos do Estado de São Paulo (suplente)
• CPDS/MMA - Comissão de Políticas de Desenvolvimento Sustentável e da Agenda 21 Brasileira (suplente)
• CNS - Conselho Nacional de Saúde
• CNS - Comissão Permanente de Saúde Suplementar
• CNS - Comissão Permanente de Vigilância Sanitária e Farmacovigilância
• Conselho Curador da Fundação Procon/SP

Contact:

Executive Coordinator: Lisa Gunn (coex@idec.org.br)
Phone: +55 (11) 3874-2150
Facsmile: +55 (11) 3862-9844
Website: www.idec.org.br

Address:
Desembargador Guimarães Street, 21
Água Branca
São Paulo/SP - Brazil
ZIP CODE: 05002-050

See also: Idec' Statutes