Spurred to find ways to protect consumers as online shopping grows, the 30 countries belonging to the international economic and social-development group Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) announced Monday an accord on dispute resolution.

After two years of wrangling over the policy document, the Paris-based OECD said its 30 members -- which include the European countries, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the United States and the United Kingdom among others -- have signed off on a legal framework intended to lead to better policing and resolution of consumer complaints, particularly in cross-border disputes involving e-commerce.

But it remains unclear whether concrete change will come from the policy agreement, which the OECD countries now must find a way to put into effect.

Called the “OECD Recommendation on Consumer Dispute Resolution and Redress,” the 13-page document states principles that include:

* Finding ways that monetary remedies may be more easily recognized and enforced by foreign courts in cross-border cases.

* Recognizing consumer-protection enforcement to obtain redress for consumers can be helpful in complex cross-border disputes involving fraudulent and deceptive commercial practices.

* Agreeing that despite the diversity of legal cultures in member countries, a consensus exists on the need for common principles setting out the main characteristics of effective consumer dispute resolution and redress systems.

* Recognizing that dispute resolution and redress mechanisms for consumers could include out-of-court “dispute resolution services, including online dispute resolution,” for consumers and businesses to settle a dispute through the active intervention of a third party.

* Acknowledging a need for simplified court procedures for small claims.

* Seeing a need to improve effectiveness of consumer remedies in cross-border disputes and provide clear information to consumers on judicial and extra-judicial dispute-resolution mechanisms.

* Participating in international and regional consumer complaint, advice and referral networks.

* Taking steps to minimize legal barriers to filing consumer complaints in cross-border disputes.

* Establishing protections for payment cardholders in disputes with merchants.