Citation

Glinert LH. J. Consum. Policy 1996; 19(4): 411-438.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1996, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/BF00411501

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper examines regulations and standards for safety information accompanying Israeli consumer products, in the context of broad Israeli language policy and EU safety communication policies, with special reference to pharmaceuticals and children's products (two high anxiety areas) and the needs of "weak consumers".

Communicative consciousness is relatively strong for pharmaceuticals, in the encoding of Hebrew and Arabic risk phrases, use of Roman script, and incipient concern for Plain Hebrew --in line with new labelling quality controls -- but still patchy for children's product standards in the encoding of specified Hebrew risk and safety phrases. The effects of harmonization with the EU have been felt, but traditional nonchalance on safety labelling for non-native speakers in this immigrant society still holds in the lack of provision for the massive influx from the USSR. The assumption that the average rational consumer is being addressed also raises issues of liability.