Consumers

An EU market for consumers

In an effective, integrated EU economy based on EU-wide rules, you should be able to buy goods and services in other EU countries confident that your consumer rights will be protected if something goes wrong.

The EU’s consumer protection programme (2007-13) aims to give you a high level of legal protection and make sure the law is properly enforced .

Looking after your interests

EU policy ensures a high level of consumer safety in many areas:

• there are special safety requirements for toys, electrical appliances, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, food, lighters, personal protective equipment, machinery and recreational craft
• strict rules help ensure that defective products are recalled. The EU receives more than 2,000 reports of dangerous or unsafe products each year, principally relating to toys and clothes and textiles (e.g. loose cords on children's clothes, toxic chemicals in shoes and upholstery).

The EU also safeguards consumers’ wider interests in areas such as:

• fair business practices
• misleading and comparative advertising
• price indicators and labelling
• unfair contract terms
• distance and doorstep selling
• timeshares and package holidays
• travellers’ rights
• nutritional and health claims
• novel foods
• food ingredients and packaging.

Fair business practices

In response to the growth of financial services and electronic commerce, the Commission has proposed guidelines for good on-line business practices and rules for all aspects of consumer credit and non-cash payments.

Consumer interests are already factored into laws liberalising key public services like transport, electricity and gas, telecommunications and post. As a result you should enjoy universal access to high-quality services at affordable prices.

Enforcing the rules

You must be able to obtain redress if EU rules are not implemented correctly. This requires better cooperation between EU countries. Court proceedings can be costly and time-consuming, especially if they're not in your home country. To encourage out-of-court settlements, the Commission has developed no-cost or low-cost ways of settling disputes.

Unfair commercial practices such as misleading advertising and aggressive selling practices like harassment, coercion and using undue influence are now illegal throughout the EU.

Many people are wary of cross-border shopping because they are uncertain of their rights and afraid of fraud. New EU rules give you the same protection from aggressive business practices and rogue traders whether buying from the shop around the corner or from a website in another EU country.

Another way in which you can seek redress is to contact the European Consumer Centres Network (ECC-Net). Find the centre nearest you.

Top

EU institutions and bodies

• European Commission
  • Consumer affairs
  • Food safety
• European Parliament
  • Committee on the environment, public health and food safety
  • Committee on internal market and consumer protection
• Council of the European Union
  • Employment, social policy, health and consumer affairs
• European Economic and Social Committee
  • Employment, social affairs and citizenship section
• Committee of the Regions
  • Commission for natural resources (NAT)
• EU agencies
  • European Food Safety Authority

Publications, statistics and press releases

• Publications
• Newsletters
• Statistics

Funding opportunities

• Grants
• Call for tenders (public procurement)

Legislation

• Summaries of EU legislation on consumer protection
• Legislation in force on consumer protection
• Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union - Article 169 (consumer protection)