Statements

Airport Ranking: Zurich is Europe’s best airport

“This year has been one of the most challenging for the global travel industry. Many airports were closed for weeks or even months. While travel slowly recovers we want to inform consumers which airports are the most convenient to travel from and to in Europe. Airports with more space per passenger rank higher in our analysis. This is helpful to know for travelers who try to maintain distance from others. If you have to travel this Summer, you might want to consider starting or ending your journey at well-designed airports such as Zurich, Düsseldorf, or Copenhagen.

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PA Gov. Wolf has it right on legalizing cannabis

August 25, 2020
By Yaël Ossowski
In Cannabis, Cannabis Legalization, Statements
0 comments

Washington, D.C. – Unveiling his legislative priorities on Tuesday, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf formally called on the State Legislature to legalize cannabis as a means of helping support small business funding across the state.

He proposed that proceeds from cannabis businesses go to restorative justice programs and small business financing as a measure of COVID-19 relief,

Yaël Ossowski, deputy director of the consumer advocacy group Consumer Choice Center, praised Wolf’s call.

“For too long, lives and resources have been wasted in the failed War on Drugs. By calling on state lawmakers to legalize recreational cannabis, Gov. Wolf is taking the next practical step to save lives and improve our communities,” said Ossowski.

“The benefits of legalization have already paid out massive dividends to the people in Colorado, California, Michigan, Oregon, and more, via tax revenues and also by reversing the harsh criminalization that has had a disproportionate impact on low-income and minority communities.

“As the fifth-most populous and one of the most diverse states in the country, Pennsylvania can show every state in our nation that legalizing cannabis is a positive step forward for justice and the economy,” said Ossowski.

“Officials should ensure that Pennsylvania embraces smart cannabis policy, one that encourages competition, entrepreneurship, avoids red tape and eradicates the black market to spur a new revolution in entrepreneurship and opportunity.

“The Consumer Choice Center applauds the governor’s efforts, and hopes legislators line up behind his proposal,” said Ossowski.

CONTACT:

Yaël Ossowski

Deputy Director

Consumer Choice Center

yael@consumerchoicecenter.org

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The CCC represents consumers in over 100 countries across the globe. We closely monitor regulatory trends in Ottawa, Washington, Brussels, Geneva, Lima, Brasilia, and other hotspots of regulation and inform and activate consumers to fight for #ConsumerChoice. Learn more at consumerchoicecenter.org.

South Africa’s Prohibition Was A Failure. It Shouldn’t Be Repeated

CONTACT:

David Clement

Consumer Choice Center

South Africa’s Prohibition Was A Failure. It Shouldn’t Be Repeated

Cape Town, SA – Today, South Africa officially lifted its pandemic-era prohibition on the sale of alcohol and tobacco products.

David Clement, North American Affairs Manager with the Consumer Choice Center responded: “While it is good news that South Africa is ending the ban, it needs to be restated how much of an utter failure the ban was over the past few months,” said Clement

“In banning otherwise legal products throughout the pandemic, the South African government criminalized peaceful adults, and drove consumers to illegal markets often selling dangerous and unregulated products.

“While South Africa’s failed prohibition experiment is over, it is important for South African consumers to urge the government to refrain from implementing another ban if a second Covid-19 wave comes to pass. The pandemic has been awful for millions of South Africans and the South African economy as a whole. Recreating prohibition in the process just made the situation worse,” said Clement

***CCC North American Affairs Manager David Clement is available to speak with accredited media on consumer regulations and consumer choice issues. Please send media inquiries HERE.***

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The CCC represents consumers in over 100 countries across the globe. We closely monitor regulatory trends in Ottawa, Washington, Brussels, Geneva and other hotspots of regulation and inform and activate consumers to fight for #ConsumerChoice. Learn more at consumerchoicecenter.org.

California’s political leaders are pushing rideshare companies and consumers will suffer

San Francisco, CA – On Wednesday, the CEO of Uber said that if California’s AB5 law is carried out against rideshare firms, the company will consider pulling all of its services from the state.

Yaël Ossowski, deputy director of the Consumer Choice Center, a consumer advocacy group, calls it a “sad day” for California rideshare consumers drivers.

“Through AB5 and similar legislation, California’s politicians have been sending the signal that rideshare companies are not welcome in the Golden State. But that’s not what consumers want,” said Ossowski. “The flexible model that has so far propelled the growth of companies like Uber, Lyft, and others has been beneficial for both drivers who want independence and consumers who want convenience and competitive prices.

“If Uber and other companies shut down in California, it will prove that the state is no longer a hotbed of innovation, but rather the place where innovation goes to die. It’s unfortunate that millions of Californians will be deprived of more choice if that happens. The same has also proven true for the thousands of freelancers who now find themselves out of work.

“California politicians may have the noblest of intentions, but forcing rideshare companies to become taxi companies does nothing but help the taxi cartel maintain its monopoly and deprive people of earning a living on their own terms.

“Hopefully, voters will choose to support Prop 22 in the fall to reverse course and restore the ability of drivers and other freelancers to earn a living how they want,” said Ossowski.

The Consumer Choice Center represents consumers in over 100 countries across the globe. We closely monitor regulatory trends in Ottawa, Washington, Brussels, Geneva, and other hotspots of regulation and inform and activate consumers to fight for #ConsumerChoice. Learn more at consumerchoicecenter.org.

CONTACT:

Yaël Ossowski

Deputy Director

Consumer Choice Center

yael@consumerchoicecenter.org

L’inps ha violato la privacy di milioni di Italiani

Nonostante questa scelta dei parlamentari possa essere considerata inopportuna, e sicuramente è l’ennesima prova di una classe politica inadeguata, l’INPS e il suo presidente questa volta hanno superato ogni limite della legalità. – dice Luca Bertoletti, responsabile Europeo del Consumer Choice Center.

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Großbritannien ist kein Vorbild beim Kampf gegen Übergewicht — Bevormundung ist der falsche Weg — Deutschland braucht Aufklärung und Innovation

Maria Chaplia, European Affairs Associate für das Consumer Choice Center, meint dass ein Verbot von Fernsehwerbung und die generelle Einführung von Werbebeschränkungen die Fettleibigkeitsrate nicht senke, sondern stattdessen erheblichen wirtschaftlichen Schaden verursachen würde. Außerdem bevormundeten sie die Verbraucher und würden die Meinungsfreiheit untergraben.

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Germany shouldn’t follow the UK’s flawed obesity strategy

“Overall, ad bans would target consumption of junk food but it is the exercise that many children lack. According to a report published by the European Commission and the WHO in 2018, only 19% of 11-13-year olds in Germany were physically active. The situation is disastrous, and by opting for junk food ad bans, the German government will simply regulate in the wrong direction.

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Scrapping COVID Patents: PM Johnson needs to resist populist calls

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT:

Fred Roeder, Managing Director, Consumer Choice Center

Scrapping COVID Patents: PM Johnson needs to resist populist calls

London, UK – In a report published today by the House of Commons International Trade Committee, Members of Parliament suggest to allow for compulsory licensing of drugs for COVID-19. Under compulsory licensing laws, a government has the power to revoke patent rights from innovators or companies if a discovery they made provides vital treatment or protection related to a national health emergency. Fred Roeder, Health Economist and Managing Director of the Consumer Choice Center warns that such erosion of intellectual property would lead to the opposite and eventually harm patients:

“Compulsory licensing is threatening to move the goalposts on how intellectual property rights are protected. If domestic and foreign companies are prevented from retaining their patent licenses, this could hinder the production and supply of essential goods to the population further than they already are. A compulsory licensing bill could place even more barriers for pharmaceutical innovators, which could further discourage these kinds of companies from investing or listing their drugs in the UK.

There are many ways to make easier access to vaccines and drugs for example a mutual recognition of FDA and EMA approvals and fast-tracking some type of medicines. In order to be prepared for the next pandemic, we need to increase and not curb incentives for innovation. Right now we need to do everything that makes pharmaceutical research more agile – Introducing compulsory licensing on COVID drugs and vaccines is not the right way. While might help in the short term but jeopardizes our ability to tackle health crises early on in the long run,” concludes Roeder.

***CCC’ Fred Roeder is available to speak with accredited media on consumer regulations and healthcare issues. Please send media inquiries HERE.***

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Flavor bans push consumers across borders

David Clement, North American Affairs Manager with the Consumer Choice Center responded: “How many times do we have to be reminded that prohibition doesn’t work? A decline in tax revenue is a predictable consequence of prohibition-style bans. It was naive for Massachusetts legislators to think that their ban wouldn’t increase sales across state lines. To make matters worse, other states like California and Illinois are considering enacting similar bans in their states,” said Clement.

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Businesses and schools need COVID-19 liability shields

Consumer Choice Center Deputy Director Yaël Ossowski responded: “The nature of the virus means it is almost certain that someone, somewhere, will catch the virus. That means huge potential legal ramifications if a person wants to hold an institution or business liable,” he wrote in the Detroit Times.

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Boris Johnson’s new anti-obesity strategy will only nanny consumers

In response, Maria Chaplia, European Affairs Associate at the Consumer Choice Center, said “Radical measures such as banning ads and promotions would fail to tackle obesity, while also harshly affecting adults and their personal choices. The silent minority of consumers who want to be left alone and deemed as responsible consumption wise will be hurt the most,” she said.

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European Parliament has inexplicable double standard on GMOs

Brussels, BE – The European Parliament has recently authorised a temporary derogation from rules on genetic engineering, in order to allow COVID-19 vaccine development to benefit from GMO technology. In a statement, the Parliament said that “The derogation will facilitate the development, authorisation and consequently availability of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments”. The Consumer Choice Center’s Senior Policy Analyst Bill Wirtz says he’s puzzled by the change of heart of Members of the Parliament :

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Airport Ranking: Zurich is Europe’s best airport

PA Gov. Wolf has it right on legalizing cannabis

South Africa’s Prohibition Was A Failure. It Shouldn’t Be Repeated

L’inps ha violato la privacy di milioni di Italiani

Großbritannien ist kein Vorbild beim Kampf gegen Übergewicht — Bevormundung ist der falsche Weg — Deutschland braucht Aufklärung und Innovation

Germany shouldn’t follow the UK’s flawed obesity strategy

Scrapping COVID Patents: PM Johnson needs to resist populist calls

Flavor bans push consumers across borders

Businesses and schools need COVID-19 liability shields

Boris Johnson’s new anti-obesity strategy will only nanny consumers

European Parliament has inexplicable double standard on GMOs

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