Research sector asks European Commission to ban frugging and sugging

For the inexperienced researcher, regulator or member of the public, sugging and frugging sound like slang terms, however, ESOMAR and EFAMRO have asked the European Commission to prohibit these practices which are seriously impacting the image of research.

'Sugging' stands for 'selling under the guise of research' and 'frugging' is short for 'fundraising under the guise of research'. Both terms merit serious consideration by regulators in stopping the growing number of operators who misrepresent their activities as research surveys to members of the public.

By sugging or frugging, traders hide their commercial intent and deceptively present themselves as conducting market research making it difficult for people to distinguish between market research and sales approaches.

ESOMAR and EFAMRO have asked for the European Commission to take specific steps to update its law on unfair trading (known as the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive) to better enforce rules against sugging and frugging. This Directive, which regulates business to consumer commercial practices, was passed in 2005 and the Commission is due to report how far it has been implemented to the European Parliament and Council.
ESOMAR and EFAMRO emphasise that when unscrupulous operators pose as market researchers, this undermines consumers’ trust in research and impacts their willingness to participate in research.

Sources:

http://www.esomar.org/uploads/professional_standards/data-protection/2011-10-12_EFAMRO_ESOMAR_UCPD_response.pdf

http://www.research-live.com/news/government/eu-trade-orgs-lobby-european-commission-to-ban-sugging/4006257.article