ABSTRACT
Regulation is becoming increasingly polycentric. It takes place at the local, national, regional and international levels. Its tools are no longer restricted to detailed prescriptive national laws. Primary legislation is often simply an excuse for secondary legislation or guidance. Legal rules themselves are increasingly drafted in broad general terms leaving the content of the law to be defined by government agencies, the courts or self-regulatory bodies. All these developments place increased stress on the resources of those who seek to ensure the consumer’s voice is heard in the regulatory process. Democratic consumer organisations have an important role to play in representing the consumer, but government also has a duty to ensure either that consumer organisations are properly financed or relatively independent government institutions look after the consumer interest.
