EU consumer policy
BIS's Consumer & Competition Policy Directorate (CCP) is responsible for the co-ordination of UK input into the European Union and other international groups, including Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
This includes the negotiation, implementation and review of EC legislation and EU policy on consumer protection generally.
This includes recent changes to the Treaty to ensure that consumer protection requirements are taken into account when formulating other community policies and activities.
European Commission's Consumer Policy Strategy (2007 - 2013)
On 13 March 2007, the Commission published a new consumer policy strategy.
The Strategy sets out 3 high-level objectives for European consumer policy over the next seven years:
- Empowering consumers
- Enhancing consumer welfare
- Protecting consumers
The strategy can be found at:
http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/overview/cons_policy/index_en.htm
European Consumer Protection Directives
CCP is also responsible for the regulations, implementation and revision of European directives on consumer protection.
There are a number of European Directives that deal with consumer issues that have been, or are being, transposed into UK law including:
- Commercial Agents (86/653 EC)
- Distance Selling (97/7 EC)
- Doorstep Selling (85/577 EEC)
- General product Safety (92/59 EEC)
- Injunctions – Stop Now Orders (98/27 EC)
- Misleading and Comparative Advertising (84/450 EEC and 97/55 EC)
- Package Travel (90/314 EEC)
- Price Indications (98/6 EC)
- Product Liability (99/34 EEC)
- Sale of Goods and Associated Guarantees (99/44/EC)
- Sales Promotions (proposed Regulation)
- The Timeshare, Holiday Products, Resale and Exchange Contracts Regulations 2010 (2008/122/EC)
- Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (2005/29/EC)
- Unfair Contract Terms (93/13 EEC)
- Consumer Protection Co-operation Regulation (2006/2004 EC)
- Consumer Credit Directive (2008/48 EC)
