The Netherlands Consumer Authority was created in 2007. The primary reason for its creation was the lack of compliance with regulations in consumer markets in The Netherlands. Secondly, the expansion of the European internal market called for the creation of a consumer authority (Regulation 2006/2004 on consumer protection cooperation).
The Netherlands Consumer Authority falls under the supervision of the Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation. It has been granted direct oversight and enforcement powers, thereby guaranteeing independent decision-making.
Nevertheless, the Minister of Economic Affair, Agriculture and Innovation remains fully politically responsible for the Netherlands Consumer Authority and for its actions. For instance, it is the Minister who prepares the annual report and who sends it to both houses of Dutch Parliament. The Minister can also issue instructions, both instructions that are general in nature (for example, policy regulations) as well as specific instructions for individual cases. In practice the latter has never happened.
