European Consumers' Organisation

BEUC, the European Consumers' Organisation has a membership of 44 well respected, independent national consumer organisations from 31 European countries (EU, EEA and applicant countries). BEUC acts as the umbrella group in Brussels for these organisations and its main task is to represent its members and defend the interests of all Europe's consumers.

European chemicals safety net flawed Commission study reveals — 23 February 2012, 17:20 CET

A European Commission study on hormone disrupting chemicals has shed a worrying new light on the insufficient way these are assessed before use in consumer products.

Futile European Parliament vote on bank deposit guarantees — 16 February 2012, 14:34 CET

Today’s European Parliament vote on EU rules governing deposit guarantees – which protect consumers when banks go bankrupt – has regrettably been in vain.

EU can wait no longer for Collective Redress — 02 February 2012, 12:43 CET

Today’s vote in the European Parliament echoes BEUC in putting clear pressure on the Commission to introduce a system of Collective Redress providing EU consumers with a collective compensation tool for commercial malpractice.

Major EU update of Data Protection laws: Consumers handed greater control of their data — 25 January 2012, 18:37 CET

BEUC welcomes today’s proposed update of EU Data Protection laws by the European Commission. These will make European standards applicable to all companies processing the data of European consumers.

EU's Digital Single Market blueprint released — 11 January 2012, 23:13 CET

A European ‘Digital Single Market’ was brought a step closer today by the European Commission’s eCommerce Communication. Consumers in the EU can see this as welcome progress in tackling major obstacles to cross-border online trade.

Consumers' wish for Santa: Safer toys for Europe's kids — 06 December 2011, 23:54 CET

Just as every year, Christmas approaches and family and friends rush to the shops to buy toys for the children. Often spoiling the festive mood is the doubt in the minds of many consumers as to the safety of the toys they buy. ANEC and BEUC warn that the entry into force of the revised Toy Safety Directive earlier this year should not camouflage worrying flaws in the safety of toys sold in Europe.

Bank proposal on current account fee transparency - bold announcement, zero substance — 21 November 2011, 15:53 CET

BEUC, the European Consumers’ Organisation, rejects EBIC’s (European Bank Industry Committee) plans to self-regulate the transparency and comparability of current account fees as instructed by the European Commission. For a paltry number of bank account services (approx. 10), the banks propose to establish a common terminology and information.

MiFID II - An opportunity to make Europeans' investments safer — 20 October 2011, 23:16 CET

While stock markets and banks are in disarray, Europe's consumers need stable financial markets more than ever to make secure investments. The European Commission is due to unveil an updated 'Markets in Financial Instruments Directive' (MiFID II) Thursday, October 20th. BEUC, the European Consumers' Organisation has asked legislators to make consumers' needs their theme in this initiative.

New "optional" EU Sales law makes consumer protection a guessing game — 13 October 2011, 18:09 CET

BEUC, the European Consumers’ Organisation has strong concerns about the European Commission’s proposal of an “optional” Common Sales Law due October 11.

Dangerous chemicals in consumer products: your Right to Know not easy to use — 05 October 2011, 19:51 CET

Would you like to know if your carpet or your child’s toothbrush contains any hazardous chemicals? You have the right to ask the trader and manufacturer. But when BEUC, the European Consumer Organisation, and its members tested it, we received very few satisfying answers.

Access to bank account: Disappointment over Commission climb-down — 21 July 2011, 23:45 CET

Millions of Europeans without a bank account will be hugely disappointed by today’s Commission decision to give up on planned legislative action in favour of a non-binding Recommendation on access to a basic payments account. BEUC, the European Consumers’ Organisation has for many years been calling for EU action giving all EU consumers access to a bank account and deplores this climb-down of the Commission.

Major new rules for roaming in the EU — 06 July 2011, 23:42 CET

Today sees new European Commission rules proposing to change the face of Europe’s telecommunications market and further reduce the roaming cost of calls, texts and, for the first time, data usage. These rules would be applicable as of 1st July 2012.

EU Contract law - MEPs on the wrong track — 06 June 2011, 16:22 CET

The European Parliament votes this week Wednesday 8 on a report by MEP Diana Wallis (UK) supporting the European Commission’s proposal for a European contract law system.

EU IPR Strategy "behind the times": BEUC leads calls for balanced copyright laws — 19 May 2011, 11:36 CET

The European Commission is expected to publish on Tuesday May 24 its EU Strategy on the future of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs). In advance, BEUC has published its own ‘IPR Strategy’ which offers the perspective of European consumers, identifies failings with the current status quo and proposes how to establish a copyright framework which benefits both creators and consumers.

Leaked EU Council paper reveals cloned food restrictions were possible — 11 May 2011, 23:53 CET

As raised during debate in the European Parliament this afternoon, BEUC and the Eurogroup for Animals are bewildered by a confidential document from the Council which reveals that, contrary to what was argued by EU Ministers and Commission during negotiations on the ‘Novel Food’ regulation, restrictions on the marketing of food from cloned animals and their offspring could be possible with WTO rules.

NGOs call for immediate substitution of Endocrine Disrupters — 05 May 2011, 13:19 CET

Fertility difficulties, obesity, diabetes, premature breast developments, malformed reproductive organs… these are some of the potential effects of 'endocrine disrupters' (substances which can interfere with the hormonal system) commonly used in consumer products in the EU. Examples include Bisphenol A, Phthalates and Parabens.

Commission still not up to speed on Net Neutrality — 19 April 2011, 17:12 CET

Europe’s 350 million internet users were today disappointed by a second chance lost to secure the neutral nature and quality of service of the internet, in today’s European Commission communication on Net Neutrality.

EU policy on smart energy future must take consumers onboard — 14 April 2011, 23:09 CET

In the context of the EU Sustainable Energy Week, the European Commission today publishes its Communication on ‘Smart Grids: From Innovation to Deployment’ which outlines actions to promote faster and wider deployment of smart grids and smart meters in Europe.

Home loans: a high level of borrowers' protection to become reality at last? — 31 March 2011, 19:04 CET

Today’s European Commission proposal on credit agreements for home loans finally addresses irresponsible practises which have harmed many European consumers.

BEUC on International Consumers' Day: "Pressing need" for collective redress — 17 March 2011, 13:28 CET

An EU collective redress system is the most pressing, missing tool for Europe’s 500 million consumers to have their rights enforced.

Commission giving up the lead on Ecodesign targets to industry? — 25 February 2011, 00:04 CET

An estimated 80% of the environmental impacts of products are determined during their design phase. This is why the Ecodesign law aims to improve the environmental performance of energy-related products (such as fridges, dishwashers and washing machines) throughout their life-cycles by integrating environmental criteria at a very early stage in the product design.

EU progresses in fighting counterfeit medicines — 15 February 2011, 23:52 CET

The counterfeiting of medicines is a criminal activity that gambles with consumers' health and a sad phenomenon on the rise (11.4 million counterfeit medicines were seized at EU borders in 2009 - an increase of 422% on 2006). In best case scenarios, counterfeit medicines can be inefficient and a waste of money for consumers, in worst case, lethal.

EU reassures consumers with new Data Protection strategy — 04 November 2010, 13:57 CET

BEUC, the European Consumers' Organisation, welcomes today’s announcement of the European Commission’s review strategy of the 15 year old Data Protection Directive, which sees greater emphasis put on European consumers' fundamental rights to personal data protection and privacy. The EU’s initiative has particular importance because it addresses how internet users' data is collected and processed.

ANEC/BEUC inventory exposes a game of roulette — 28 October 2010, 00:05 CET

"Nano whitening", "Using the newest Nanotechnological ingredients", "Uses the Nano Silver technology which protects the baby's skin". . . Products claiming to contain nanomaterials are already widely available on the European market and these are just some of the boasts that can be found in shops or online.

ENVI vote on Information to Patients: A relief for European Consumers — 28 September 2010, 22:21 CET

The Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee of the European Parliament today voted for new EU legislation concerning information given to the general public on prescription medicines. BEUC, the European Consumers’ Organisation, welcomes the efforts of the Members of the European Parliament to improve the Commission’s proposed legislation.