The Unfair Commercial Practices Directive

New rules enhancing consumer rights must be applicable across EU by 12 December 2007, 2½ years after their formal adoption in May 2005 ( Directive 2005/29/EC on Unfair Commercial Practices). This should boost consumer confidence and make it easier for business (especially small and medium sized) to carry out cross border trading.

The new legislation outlines "sharp practices" which will be prohibited throughout the EU, such as misleading and aggressive marketing. A general ban on unfair commercial practices will ensure that the Directive will stand the test of time even in fast evolving markets. Specific provisions prevent exploitation of vulnerable consumers, such as children. Enforcement of the rules is the task of national consumer protection authorities and courts.

Press release: New EU rules crackdown on misleading advertising and aggressive sales practices (IP/07/1915) - 12-12-2007

Questions and answers: The unfair commercial practices Directive. (MEMO/07/572) - 12-12-2007

This brochure  introduces the Directive and gives concrete examples.

The web page www.isitfair.eu contains practical information for consumers on how to check if they have fallen victim to an unfair commercial practice, and how to get help.

Guidance on the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive

Since the adoption of the Directive, the Commission and the national enforcers have cooperated regularly to ensure a common understanding of its provisions.
This Guidance aims at developing a convergence of practices when implementing the Directive.

General Q&A on the on the Guidance

The deadline for transposition was 12 June 2007. Several Member States are late in transposing the Directive into their national laws.

The Commission is working with the Member States and stakeholders to make sure that Member States comply with their obligations to transpose the directive into national law. The Commission will take all necessary steps to address late or inadequate transposition.

Database on the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive

The Commission has developped a new tool to support national enforcers in achieving a common understanding and a uniform application of the Directive. The legal database is a comprehensive and user friendly instrument which gathers and gives public access to national laws transposing the Directive, jurisprudence, administrative decisions, references to related legal literature and other relevant materials. It makes it possible to compare decisions and national case-law of the Member States. In addition, the database contains advanced search functions which cover the totality of the content.

The database will be regularly updated with new content

The Commission will publish a list of national transposition measures to improve transparency and update the list regularly:

Austria :	79. Bundesgesetz, mit dem das Bundesgesetz gegen den unlauteren Wettbewerb 1984 - UWG geändert wird (UWG-Novelle 2007)
Belgium :	Loi relative aux pratiques du marché et à la protection du consommateur du 6 avril 2010
Bulgaria :	Law amending the Consumer Protection Law.
Cyprus :	Law on the Control of Misleading and Comparative Advertising of 2007. Law on the Unfair Commercial Practices from Businesses to Consumers of 2007.
Czech Republic :	Zakon ze dne 17.ledna 2008
Denmark :	Notification regarding unfair marketing in consumer relations. Lov om ændring af lov om markedsføring
Estonia :	Act amending Consumer Protection act and Law of Obligations Act, adopted 11 october 2007.
France :	Loi du 3 janvier 2008 pour le développement de la concurrence au service des consommateurs Loi du 4 août 2008 sur la modernisation de l'économie(articles 83 et 84)
Germany :	Bekanntmachung der Neufassung des Gesetzes gegen den unlauteren Wettbewerb, Vom 3. März 2010 22. Dezember 2008
Greece :	Amendment and completion of Law 2251/1994 "Protection of Consumers", as applies – Incorporation of directive 2005/29 of the European Parliament and Council.
Hungary :	2008. évi XLVII. tör vény a fogyasztókkal szembeni tisztességtelen kereskedelmi gyakorlat tilalmáról 2008. évi XLVIII. tör vény a gazdasági reklámtevékenység alapvetõ feltételeirõl és egyes korlátairól
Ireland :	The Consumer Protection Act 2007, No 19 of 2007.
Italy :	DECRETO LEGISLATIVO 2 Agosto 2007, n. 146 Attuazione della direttiva 2005/29/CE relativa alle pratiche commerciali sleali tra imprese e consumatori nel mercato interno e che modifica le direttive 84/450/CEE, 97/7/CE, 98/27/CE, 2002/65/CE, e il Regolamento (CE) n. 2006/2004.
Luxemburg :	Loi du 29 avril 2009 relative aux pratiques commerciales déloyales
Latvia :	Negodīgas komercprakses aizlieguma likums
Malta :	ACT No. II of 2008 AN ACT to amend the Consumer Affairs Act and to make amendments to other laws
Netherlands :	Wet van 25 september 2008 tot aanpassing van de Boeken 3 en 6 van het Burgerlijk Wetboek en andere wetten aan de richtlijn betreffende oneerlijke handelspraktijken van ondernemingen jegens consumenten op de interne markt Besluit van 6 oktober 2008 tot vaststelling van het tijdstip van inwerkingtreding van de wet van 25 september 2008 houdende aanpassing van de Boeken 3 en 6 van het Burgerlijk Wetboek en andere wetten aan de richtlijn betreffende oneerlijke handelspraktijken van ondernemingen jegens consumenten op de interne markt
Poland :	Law on prevention of unfair market practices
Portugal :	Ministério da Economia e da Inovação-Estabelece o regime aplicável às práticas comerciais desleais das empresas nas relações com os consumidores, ocorridas antes, durante ou após uma transacção comercial relativa a um bem ou serviço, transpondo para a ordem jurídica interna a Directiva n.º 2005/29/CE, do Parlamento Europeu e do Conselho, de 11 de Maio, relativa às práticas comerciais desleais das empresas nas relações com os.
Romania :	Act No. 250/2007 Lege privind combaterea practicilor incorecte ale comercianţilor în relaţia cu consumatorii şi armonizarea reglementărilor cu legislaţia europeană privind protecţia consumatorilor
Slovak Republic :	Act No. 250/2007 Coll. of Laws, on Consumer Protection and on Change of Act of the Slovak National Council No. 372/1990 Coll., on Minor Offences, as amended.
Slovenia :	Law on the Protection of Consumers against Unfair Commercial Practices.
Spain :	Ley 29/2009, de 30 de diciembre, por la que se modifica el régimen legal de la competencia desleal y de la publicidad para la mejora de la protección de los consumidores y usuarios.
Sweden :	Regeringen överlämnar denna proposition till riksdagen.
United Kingdom :	Consumer Protection - The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 Trade Description - The Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008

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