By Martin Banks - 23rd June 2011
Businesses should now adapt to the new rules quickly
Malcolm Harbour
Parliament has adopted draft EU legislation that aims to give consumers across Europe new rights.
It is claimed the consumer rights directive will provide a "clear and more uniform" set of rules for consumer when buying goods and services.
The new law, which was adopted by a large majority in the mini plenary in Brussels, covers rules on information, such as how much a product will cost when shopping online or ordering from a catalogue.
Member states must now transpose the legislation into national law within two years.
The outcome of the vote was welcomed by UK Tory deputy Malcolm Harbour, who chairs parliament's internal market and consumer protection committee and said it will replace "outdated" doorstep selling and distance sales directives.
He said, "It addresses the patchwork of different consumer rights across the EU. It reinforces the single market, in particular for online sales."
Harbour, a member of the European Conservatives and Reformists group, led the final round of negotiations with member states on the directive, said it "strikes the right balance between consumer and business interests".
He said, "The new legislation will strengthen protection for online shoppers and will also specify rules on delivery and digital downloads while cutting red tape for businesses trading cross border.
"As current EU rules predate the digital era, consumers have so far been poorly protected online. Concerns about late or no delivery of goods as well as the fragmentation of the EU rules were holding consumers back from cross border online shopping."
He added, "At the same time, businesses were pointing to differences in national laws as the main barrier to selling cross border.
"Businesses should now adapt to the new rules quickly and use this unprecedented opportunity to drive cross border sales. Market leaders in online sales are already ahead of the game and these rules will not impact on their practices.
"Those who weren't paying enough attention to the link between a successful business and high standards of customer service and transparency will need to innovate and get up to speed."
