Josep Tous. ieConsumo. Especialista en consumo

Josep Tous i Andreu

• Family name:    Tous i Andreu                   
• First names:      Josep                       
• Date of birth:     28/01/1966
• Nationality:        Spanish       
• Civil status:       Married
• Education:       

 

 

•  Language skills:  Indicate competence on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 - excellent; 5 - basic)

 

 

 

• Membership of professional bodies:

Presently:

• General Secretary of Asociación Nacional para la Excelencia en las Relaciones entre las empresas y el consumidor (ASONEX) - National Association for Excellence in Relations between Businesses and Consumers.
• President of the Asociación de Seguridad y Vida (Association for Life and Safety). Non-profit, non-governmental, public service organization dedicated to protecting life and promoting health. (2004 – Present).
• Member of Veterinarians Professional Association (nowadays).
• Member of the Catalan Audiovisual Council. Spain (2006 – Present).

 

During my mandate as General Director of Consumer Affairs (2000 – 2004) I became a member of the Management Board of a number of Committees, professional institutions and associations:

 

• Director of the European Consumer Centre of Spain (2001-2003).
• Vice-president of the European Inter-regional Institute of Consumer Affairs (IEIC) (2000-2004).
• Coordinator of the projects with the French Consumers Product Safety Commission (2000-2004).
• Projects cooperation Manager with the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Frauds Repression of French Ministry of Economy and Finance (2000-2004).
• TACYS’ Projects promoter, promoter with the government of the Russian Federation on training in consumption on Russian Federation’s Regions (2004).
• Director of cooperation with the European Consumer Safety Association (ECOSA) (2000-2004).
• Member of LGAI’s Board of Directors, General Laboratory of Analysis and Investigations, Catalonia (2000 – 2004).
• Committee Member of the Cooperation and Coordination of Consumption autonomous administrations (Madrid). Spain (2000 – 2004).
• Governing Council Member of CESNID (Centro de Estudios de Nutrición y Dietética – Nutrition and Dietetic Centre), University of Barcelona. (2000 – 2004)
• Chairman of the consumer affairs working group in which make up all the
• President of the “Working Group to implement safety rules of consumer products” in Catalonia, Spain (2002-2004).
• Member of IDIADA’s Board of Directors (Instituto de Investifación y ensayo de automóviles – Automobile Research and Testing Institut) (2002 – 2004).
• Member of the Board of Directors Committee of the Waste Board (environment) (2002 – 2003)
• Autonomous Communities and the Spanish Central Government. (2002 – 2004).
• Consultant Member of several Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications Protected’s Regulatory Board.

 

 

 

• Other skills:  (e.g. Computer literacy, etc.)
• Capacity to generate new issues, provide innovative solutions or opportunities.
• Ability to create and design new projects or business opportunities.
• Capacity of managing and leading teams to achieve goals and objectives, by communicating and clarifying responsibilities, encouraging cooperation among the different roles, and promoting continuous improvement.
• Excellent communication skills, capacity to transmit messages clearly, concisely, fluently, directly and appropriately; adapting the message to the level of its recipient. This also applies to oral presentations and communications media (press conferences, radio, TV).
• Excellent negotiation ability.

 

 

• Present position:       
• General Director of Observatorio del Consumo (ieConsumo) Barcelona, Spain.
• Academic Director of the Master in Consumer Affairs, University of Barcelona. Director and Academic Coordinator of the 5 Consortium Universities.                    
• Years within the firm:
• Since 2004 to present (Director of ieConsumo)
• Since 2007 to present (Director of European Master in Consumer Affairs).

 

• Key qualifications:  (Relevant to the assignment)

Josep Tous has a long experience from responsibility of government as a General Director and person in charge of consumption inspectors, especially involved in market surveillance and consumer protection.

The development of the General Consumer Protection and Sector-Specific Legislation has been one of its main tasks between 2000 and 2004. 

The experience during this time has been not only know deeply the European legislation, but to implement the legislation from the public administration. As can be seen from paragraph 5, has been part of many working Committees at European level.

Currently his work as a consultant or advisor to businesses sectors makes that business and government can work together to improve the practices related to market surveillance and consumer protection. As an international consultant, the knowledge concerning consumption policies allows to improve the international trade of the companies which I work for.

 

 

 

• Specific experience in the region:

 

 

5. Other relevant information (e.g., Publications)

During my mandate as General Director of Consumer Affairs I became a member of the Management Board of a number of Committees, professional institutions and associations:

 

• Director of the European Consumer Centre of Spain (2001-2003).
• Vice-president of the European Inter-regional Institute of Consumer Affairs (IEIC) (2000-2004).
• Coordinator of the projects with the French Consumers Product Safety Commission (2000-2004).
• Projects cooperation Manager with the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Frauds Repression of French Ministry of Economy and Finance (2000-2004).
• TACYS’ Projects promoter, promoter with the government of the Russian Federation on training in consumption on Russian Federation’s Regions (2004).
• Director of cooperation with the European Consumer Safety Association (ECOSA) (2000-2004).
• Member of LGAI’s Board of Directors, General Laboratory of Analysis and Investigations, Catalonia (2000 – 2004).
• Committee Member of the Cooperation and Coordination of Consumption autonomous administrations (Madrid). Spain (2000 – 2004).
• Governing Council Member of CESNID (Centro de Estudios de Nutrición y Dietética – Nutrition and Dietetic Centre), University of Barcelona. (2000 – 2004)
• Chairman of the consumer affairs working group in which make up all the
• President of the “Working Group to implement safety rules of consumer products” in Catalonia, Spain (2002-2004).
• Member of IDIADA’s Board of Directors (Instituto de Investifación y ensayo de automóviles – Automobile Research and Testing Institut) (2002 – 2004).
• Member of the Board of Directors Committee of the Waste Board (environment) (2002 – 2003)
• Autonomous Communities and the Spanish Central Government. (2002 – 2004).
• Consultant Member of several Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications Protected’s Regulatory Board.

 

 

 

 

 

Josep Tous' participations on Committees and Working Groups in defense of consumers and consumer organizations:

 

• Automobile Consumers Council.
• Garage sector.
• Consumer and reforms at home Council.
• Personal image, hairdressing saloon and beauty shop Consumers Council.
• Member of Entertainment and recreational activities' Advisory Council
• Advisory Council Member on housing affairs.
• Working group for consumer security at home.
• Working group for consumer security outside home.
• Coordinator Member of Consumption Guide for the consumers.
• Working group for the improvement of consumer organizations competency. 

 

Annex 6

4. Professional experience

Date from - Date to	Location	Company	Position	Description
From January 2004	Barcelona, Spain	Instituto de Estudio del Consumo (Institute of Consumer Affairs)	Director	Advisor in the areas of management, strategic advice, consumer affairs, food safety and consumer protection. The client portfolio currently includes:   Public Administrations: Spanish Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs: National Institute of Consumer Affairs (INC) National Food Safety Agency (AESAN) Food Safety Agency of the Catalonian Government. Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Action. Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and fisheries of the Catalonian Government. Consumption Department of País Vasco Government. Consumption Department of Madrid Government. Consumer Protection Department of Barcelona City Council.   Business Associations and Consumer Associations: Patients’ associations on food allergies. Consumers’ Associations. Spanish Toys Manufacturers’ Association. Spanish Electric Equipment’s Association. Manufacturers and importers of portable ladders’ Association. Private Foundation for Textile Innovation.   Private Companies: Pharmaceutical Laboratories. Food Industry. Toy Industry. Textile Industry. Food Cooperative Industry. Certifiers Companies of Products and Services.   International: BSI: British Standards Institution – Ingland MCR Consulting – France. Expert – Speaker for the Chamber of Commerce with collaboration of Timisoara University (Rumania). Lecturer in Montpellier (France) Lecturer in Bologna (Italy) Lecturer in Brunel (Great Britain) International Expert on market surveillance in consumption: Facilitation Project of Free Trade Agreement between Mexico and EU PROTLCUEM: Market Surveillance. Legislation comparative research between Mexico and European Union. Facilitation Project of Free Trade Agreement between Mexico and EU PROTLCUEM: Sectoral workshops to exchange experiences on the private agents roll in market control. Three workshops of two days.
From 2006	Barcelona, Spain	Barcelona University, IL3	Academic Director of the Master on Consumer Affairs	Duties and responsibilities: Coordination of the 39 speakers of the different areas of knowledge. Definition of the different subjects and topics integrating the master. Chairman and speaker of the Programme “Consumer Product Safety.   EUROPEAN MASTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/empowerment/cons_education_en.htm Within the Master I am the Academic Director and Academic Coordinator of the 5 Consortium Universties.
2000 - 2004	Catalonia, Spain	Government of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain.	General Directorate of Consumer Affairs and Industrial Safety. General Director.	Duties and responsibilities: Organize, schedule, coordinate and manage the mechanisms to implement the legislation and regulations related to consumer protection and industrial safety, through cooperation between all the interested parts and including food safety issues. Management and surveillance of the Inspection Bodies. Development of crisis protocols, risk analysis, risk and alert communication and crisis management. Design and implementation of the RAPEX rapid alert system. Development and performance of training programs with the aim of providing information to the consumers. Conduct market surveillance of the products in representation of consumers’ interest. Management and surveillance of a system for dispute resolution of consumer complaints. Establish liaison with consumer organisations in order to maintain balanced business / consumer interests. Relationships with the European Commission DGSANCO as part of the European Centre of Consumer Affairs.   These duties involved being responsible of 16 Sections and the supervision of 250 employees
1991 - 2000	Tarragona, Spain	Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Action.	Section of Agro-Indutries and Agricultural Trade. Senior Technical Epert, Inspector and Head.	Duties and responsibilities: Responsible for the quality assessment of the locally produced fish. Food Fraud Control Provide assessment and technical appraisal to the agricultural industries in the following duties: Inspection, process and application of the Fund's Guarantee in Europe (European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund, EAGGF), and in Spain (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, MAPA). Responsible for the quality assessment of the locally produced agricultural products. Promotion of brands and shared trade. Labelling and regulatory compliance of the products
1989 - 1991	Barcelona, Spain	ELANCO VETERINARIA (Veterinary Laboratory)	Worker