Three business organisations are pushing for new industry standards
as part of an international initiative to promote consumer trust in
e-commerce through voluntary business self-regulation.
The Federation of European Direct Marketing (FEDMA), the US and
Canada’s Better Business Bureau’s BBBOnLine and Eurochambres, the
Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry, are
developing a new international seal or "trustmark" program. It aims
to signify that an on-line business upholds specific business
standards, including alternative dispute resolution, regardless of
its location.
The venture's mission is to help businesses implement
consistently high on-line standards around the globe, using a
single, internationally recognisable trustmark. The hope is that
this will encourage the development of e-commerce by reducing
consumer confusion over the proliferation of trustmarks and
conflicting standards from country to country. To qualify for the
new seal, businesses will have to adhere to the initiative's
business practice standards.
Perhaps the biggest obstacle is that there already exist a
number of trustmark systems, national and international, each
competing for recognition, each with its own criteria for
qualification.
BBBOnLine, FEDMA and Eurochambres expect to have their programme in
place by early 2002.
