Following a call in 1962 by European Commissioner and Vice-president of the Commission of the European Economic Community (EEC) Sicco Mansholt, to have member State's consumer organisations represented in the Commission's decision-making process of Common Agriculture Policy (CAP), BEUC and the “Comité de contact des consommateurs de la Communauté européenne" (CCCCE) were created.
BEUC was to act as an umbrella organisation for member States’ consumer associations and organisations, thus ensuring representation for its affiliated member countries' consumer associations.
To be eligible for membership in BEUC, the consumer organisations had to be independent of any direct political or economic influence (including from trade unions or other stakeholders), not be already represented in the CCCCE through another association, have continuous activity exclusively in the field of consumer information, protection, and education, and not use the outcomes of studies and surveys for profit.
BEUC is governed by a sovereign General Assembly while the administration is assumed by an Executive Committee (formerly called Council), a Bureau, and the Secretariat.
Activities of BEUC include elaboration of studies, reports and opinions, participation in advisory and expert groups, implementation of teaching and training seminars, organisation of conferences, seminars, press conferences and press events.

Non-profit international association under Belgian law (AISBL).

BEUC's objectives are:
- to defend and promote the interests of European citizens and consumers of goods and services in the EU policy process,
- to unite the consumer unions, associations, and organisations of EU member States in order to promote, defend, support, and represent the consumers' interests in the elaboration and implementation of European Union policies with the European Union institutions and other bodies,
- to collect useful documents and elaborate studies supporting its objectives, and
- to promote initiatives undertaken by member organisations.