Welcome to Consumers International

Our history

Consumers International, formerly known as the International Organisation of Consumers Unions (IOCU) was set up in 1960 by a founding group of five consumer organisations.

In its early years, IOCU primarily acted as global information exchange between consumer product-testing organisations, facilitating dialogue between the growing number of these groups that had sprung up in the post-war years. Early on, we established an impressive reputation for delivering change on global consumer challenges.

In ten short years, 50 consumer organisations from around the world had joined us as Members. And by 1977, we gained General Consultative Status at the United Nations.

Today, we have over 200 Members in over 100 countries, and we continue to grow.

Our work has evolved to reflect the challenges consumers face in the 21st century marketplace. Our Change Agenda addresses pressing issues and opportunities from digital rights to fair financial services, from product safety to sustainable consumption.

Making a difference for consumers globally

The consumer landscape is constantly evolving. Our consumption habits today are dramatically different from the way they were 20 years ago. In 20 years time, there's no doubt they will have transformed again.

The digital revolution, societal upheaval, and global shifts are shaking up markets and changing the way consumers interact with business. At the same time, interconnected global crises of climate, biodiversity, cost-of-living, and hunger are demanding a new approach.

At Consumers International, we continually reassess our priorities to ensure we are tackling the issues that matter most to consumers. From combatting the dangers we face online like fraud, scams, or poor transparency, to developing new approaches to consumption which will enable three billion consumers to live sustainably by 2030.



We work with our Members and partners to drive change in the global marketplace on a scale that cannot be achieved at national level alone. Together, we are building a fair, safe, and sustainable marketplace.