It was reported recently that the China Consumers' Association
(CCA) will receive 7.5 million yuan (US$961,000) in operating funds
from the central government starting this year. This has touched
off controversy. The following are excerpts from media
comments.
Modern Express: Full funding from the government may
hurt the independence of CCA.
Before this the allocation from the government only covered the
association's office expenses. It depended on private funding for
ongoing activities and the much criticized certification fee
collected for the "3.15" mark was a major source of income. CCA was
exposed for selling the "3.15" quality mark without checking the
products or companies.
Now that CCA enjoys full funding from the government, it is
expected that it will not have to sacrifice its credibility for the
money from enterprises. But another issue emerges: CCA, though
considered an independent organization, may change its behavior now
that it receives full funding from the government. It should always
ask itself: Is CCA responsible to the government or consumers?
People regard CCA as a relatively independent organization,
which is how it built its credibility.
Business and government interests may conflict with the public
interest. For example, the government may want to wait to reveal
information on food or drug problems to avoid panic. But consumers
will want to be informed as soon as possible. Should CCA inform the
public or keep information confidential? Now that it is funded by
the government, consumers' interests may not be its priority.
It would be shortsighted to gain power and funds through
government support rather than the more difficult route of gaining
authority by helping consumers.
Shanghai Securities News: Receiving funds from the
government does not conflict with CCA's functions.
Some have worried that full funding from the government may
change the nature of the organization but actually it is a new
undertaking.
In the United States, the federal government provides consumer
organizations with about US$44 million a year. Most of the money
gets invested in equipment and facilities for quality examination.
Consumers' organizations can set up independent laboratories to
test products and publicize the results.
So it is not accurate to say that full funding may change the
nature of CCA. It is still a non-governmental and non-profit
organization.
People worry that its functions may be weakened. But funding has
no direct relation to the nature of the organization. On the
contrary, adequate funding may help the organization give full play
to its consumer functions.
Now that the financial pressure is off, it can better protect
consumer rights and interests.
Yanzhao Metropolis Daily: CCA can receive government
funding but should not become an administrative organ.
It is all right for service organizations to use government
money for the public welfare. But the organization should still
remain independent. There is no need to worry about the 7.5 million
yuan funding but we should be alert to whether CCA can keep its
independence.
Social organizations are major forces in society. On the one
hand, they take over the issues that the government cannot or
should not manage. On the other hand, they are a social force that
can supervise and restrict public power. CCA is a representative of
consumers and it should monitor the government and enterprises.
But CCA still has some official status similar to an
administrative organization. We cannot tell whether it will turn
into a virtually official administrative organ after it gets fully
funded by the government.
(China Daily April 17, 2007)