For the first time ever the government of a German state (Land) has applied the instrument Citizens’ Report to let elaborate guidelines and principles for its future policy. The new Bavarian State Minister for Health, Food and Consumer Protection, Eberhard Sinner MP, in August 2001 commissioned a Citizens’ Report on Consumer Protection in Bavaria. First preparation work had started in spring.

Minister Sinner didn’t want to plan and shape consumer policy over the heads of the consumers. The resources should be used where citizens themselves regard it as most urgent and necessary.

More than 425 citizens in all Bavarian regions (Bezirke) elaborated in four full working days, informed by many experts with different views and step by step their recommendations and suggestions. The main outcome is a list of priorities for Bavarian consumer policy. A lot of individual suggestions for subareas of consumer protection contain stimulation and proposals for politicians, but also for consumer organisations and companies.

The Citizens’ Report has been handed over to the Minister by citizens officially in June 2002 in the Emperors Hall of the Palace of Munich.

The full Citizens’ Report on Consumer Protection in Bavaria is available in German language only (pdf files, please click here for more information). A printed and bound version can be obtained from the Society for Citizens’ Reports. Please write us a short e-mail to info<nospam>@<nospam>citizens-report.com.

There is an extract in English available (pdf file, 16 pages).

In June, 2003 the Minister has published a report on the activities his Ministry has taken to implement the citizens’ proposals. This document is published as a pdf file here, too, but only in German.