![Modernisation of EU consumer protection rules: A new deal for consumers [EU Legislation in Progress][Policy podcast]](https://i0.wp.com/epthinktank.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/eprs-briefing-623547-modernisation-eu-consumer-protection-rules-final.jpg?fit=1000%2C426&ssl=1)
Written by Nikolina Šajn (4th edition, updated on 15.1.2020),
On 11 April 2018, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a directive on better enforcement and modernisation of EU consumer protection rules, as part of its ‘new deal for consumers’ package of measures. The proposal followed a fitness check of consumer legislation and an evaluation of the Consumer Rights Directive that showed that EU consumer legislation could benefit from certain aspects being clarified and brought into line with the reality of the digital economy. Following negotiations between the European Parliament and the Council of the EU, the agreed text was adopted by the European Parliament in April 2019, and the final act was signed on 27 November 2019. The new directive leaves the consumer’s right of withdrawal intact. It will ban several unfair commercial practices, such as false online reviews, and require Member States to set the maximum penalty for widespread infringement to at least 4 % of the trader’s annual turnover. Dual quality of food will not be banned altogether, but could be considered to be misleading depending on the circumstances. Online marketplaces will be required to inform consumers about the parameters of their search results.
Versions
- January 2020: ‘Modernisation of EU consumer protection rules: A new deal for consumers‘ (4th edition)
| Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 93/13/EEC of 5 April 1993, Directive 98/6/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, Directive 2005/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Directive 2011/83/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards better enforcement and modernisation of EU consumer protection rules | ||
| Committee responsible: | Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) | COM(2018) 185 11.4.2018 |
| Rapporteur: | Daniel Dalton (ECR, United Kingdom) | 2018/0090 (COD) |
| Shadow rapporteurs: | Pascal Arimont (EPP, Belgium) Evelyne Gebhardt (S&D, Germany) Jasenko Selimovic (ALDE, Sweden) Martin Schirdewan (GUE/NGL, Germany) Julia Reda (Greens/EFA, Germany) Marco Zullo (EFDD, Italy) Marcus Pretzell (ENF, Germany) |
Ordinary legislative procedure (COD) (Parliament and Council on equal footing – formerly ‘co-decision’) |
| Procedure completed. |
Directive (EU) 2019/2161 OJ L 328, 18.12.2019, pp. 7-28 |
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