Years of Consumer Law

Protecting and empowering European consumers Since 1972

THEN & NOW

1972
Video console

LAUNCH OF FIRST BLACK AND WHITE VIDEOGAME CONSOLE.

1972
Video console

EU FOUNDING MEMBERS IDENTIFY CONSUMER PROTECTION AS A RIGHT.

1979
Video console

FREE CIRCULATION OF CONSUMER GOODS IN THE EU BECOMES A REALITY, AND WITH IT THE NEED FOR SHARED CONSUMER RIGHTS.

1984
Video console

FIRST MOBILE PHONE LAUNCHED WEIGHING 1KG AND KNOWN AS ‘THE BRICK’.

2001
Video console

GENERAL PRODUCT SAFETY LAW SET EUROPE-WIDE STANDARDS FOR PRODUCT SAFETY.

2004
Video console

PASSENGER RIGHTS RULES PROTECT TRAVELLERS IN THE EU WHEN TRIPS ARE CANCELLED OR DELAYED.

2005
Video console

UNFAIR COMMERCIAL PRACTICES LAW PROTECTS CONSUMERS FROM MISLEADING ADS AND AGGRESSIVE MARKETING.

2022
Video console

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION PROPOSES LAWS TO PROTECT CONSUMERS DURING THE SHIFT TO A GREENER SOCIETY.

OF EUROPEANS ORDERED ONLINE IN 2009
IN 2019
1 FOR
ONE CAR FOR EVERY TWO PEOPLE LIVING IN THE EU IN 2020
INCREASE IN AIR PASSENGER TRANSPORT IN THE EU 1970-2000

BROWSE

UNSURE WHETHER A BARGAIN IS A BARGAIN?
OF CONSUMERS THINK
RETAILERS RESPECT THEIR
RIGHTS.
EU RULES MEAN
YOU CAN SEE IF
IT'S A REAL DEAL
THE NEW PRICE MUST BE SHOWN
WITH THE LOWEST PRICE THE ITEM
WAS SOLD AT IN THE 30 DAYS
LEADING UP TO THE REDUCTION.
CONCERNED ABOUT THE INFLUENCE ADS ARE HAVING ON YOUR CHILDREN?
ONLINE ADS CAN INFLUENCE
CHILDREN
WITHOUT THEM
REALISING IT.
THE EU IS
LOOKING OUT

FOR THEM
IN-APP OFFERS MUST BE CLEARLY IDENTIFIED.
DIRECT APPEALS TO CHILDREN ARE BANNED.
INFLUENCERS MUST FLAG WHEN THEY HAVE COMMERCIAL SPONSORS.
FEEL LIKE YOU'RE BEING MANIPULATED WHEN YOU BUY ONLINE?
OF THE MOST POPULAR WEBSITES
AND APPS
USE DARK PATTERNS
TO DUPE CONSUMERS.
UNFAIR PRACTICES
ARE BANNED
IN THE EU
NAGGING. MISLEADING
TESTIMONIALS. HIDDEN COSTS.
ALL BANNED.

BUY

WORRIED ABOUT DANGEROUS PRODUCTS?

3 TOP RISKS

INJURIES
CHEMICALS
FIRE
THE EU'S GOT
YOUR BACK
ALERTS ON EU NETWORK
FOR DANGEROUS
PRODUCTS IN 2021
COMPARED TO 2003.
SIGNED PRODUCT
SAFETY PLEDGE
TO
GO ABOVE AND
BEYOND OBLIGATIONS
IN EU LAW.
NOT SURE WHAT YOUR CHILD'S UP TO ONLINE?
MINUTES/DAY
AVERAGE TIME A
CHILD SPENDS ONLINE.
THE EU'S
MAKING THE
INTERNET SAFER
CHILD = VULNERABLE CONSUMER
RISKS HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED.
AGGRESSIVE MARKETERS BANNED.
CAN'T PUT YOUR MOBILE PHONE DOWN?
OF THE WORLD'S
POPULATION OWNS
A MOBILE PHONE.
EU RULES HELP
YOU KEEP THE
COSTS DOWN
NO ROAMING CHARGES.
IT COSTS THE SAME TO
USE YOUR MOBILE WHETHER YOU'RE AT HOME
OR ON HOLIDAY IN ANOTHER EU COUNTRY.
ENERGY BILLS KEEPING YOU AWAKE AT NIGHT?
OF EUROPEANS ARE WORRIED
ABOUT PAYING THEIR BILLS
OVER THE NEXT 6 MONTHS
.
THERE IS
A SAFETY NET
ENERGY SUPPLIERS SHOULD PROVIDE
ASSISTANCE TO VULNERABLE PEOPLE
IN THE EU.

RETURN

NEED TO RETHINK AN ONLINE PURCHASE?
OF ONLINE SHOPPERS SPENT
BETWEEN €100 & €499
IN 2021.
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT
TO RETURN
RIGHT TO RETURN
UNUSED GOODS WITH
FULL REFUND.
NEW PRODUCT NO LONGER WORKING?
ONLY
OF EUROPEANS KNOW THEIR RIGHTS
WHEN IT COMES TO FAULTY GOODS.
YOUR PURCHASES
ARE GUARANTEED
MINIMUM
GUARANTEE
VALID FOR ALL PRODUCTS.
STRANDED BY A CANCELLED OR DELAYED FLIGHT?
ONLY
OF FLIGHTS IN EUROPE ARE
DELAYED.
YOU'RE PROTECTED
BY EU RULES ON
COMPENSATION
MAX. COMPENSATION
FOR DELAYS BEYOND 3 HOURS,
DEPENDING ON DISTANCE.

REUSE

DETERMINED TO 'BUY GREEN'?
OF CONSUMERS ARE INFLUENCED
BY ENVIRONMENTAL CLAIMS.
THE EU IS HELPING YOU
TAKE CARE OF THE
ENVIRONMENT
MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES
HAVE TAKEN THE EU'S VOLUNTARY
GREEN CONSUMPTION PLEDGE.
FED UP OF HAVING TO THROW ELECTRONIC DEVICES AWAY TOO SOON?
OF E-WASTE, THE FASTEST GROWING WASTE,
IS RECYCLED.
THE EU WANTS YOU
TO HAVE THE
'RIGHT TO REPAIR'
A NEW LAW
IS IN THE PIPELINE WHICH WILL GIVE YOU
THE RIGHT TO KNOW HOW LONG A PRODUCT
WILL LAST
AND IF IT CAN BE REPAIRED.

HELP

PREVENTION LEGISLATION AND MARKET SURVEILLANCE PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS.
OF WEBSITES FOUND TO RESPECT LAW
IN SWEEP OF CAR RENTAL INTERMEDIARIES BY
THE EU'S CONSUMER AUTHORITIES. REGULAR
SWEEPS HELP BRING SELLERS
INTO LINE WITH THE LAW.
OF GREEN CLAIMS WERE FOUND TO BE
EXAGGERATED, FALSE OR DECEPTIVE.
CURE ORGANISATIONS CAN HELP YOU FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHTS.
CONSUMERS
HELPED IN 29 COUNTRIES IN 2021
BY THE EUROPEAN CONSUMER
CENTRES NETWORK
.
BODIES
ACROSS THE EU HELP CONSUMERS
SETTLE DISPUTES OUT-OF-COURT
AT LOW OR NO COST.

CONNECT WITH US


SOURCES

BBC; Science Museum; CBS News; Eurostat; DataReportal Digital 2022 report; Panorama of transport; European Commission Consumer Conditions Scoreboard 2019; European Commission Study on the impact of marketing through social media, online games and mobile applications on children’s behaviour; Safety Gate Report 2021; European Commission Survey on the Attitudes of European Consumers towards High Energy Prices and Cost of Living, 2022; European Commission report on attitudes towards cross-border trade and consumer protection, 2018; Eurocontrol; European Parliament; Summary Report of the 2nd ADR Assembly 2021.

CREDITS

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© European Union 2023

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