Consumer Policy in the EU

Latest news on the consumer policies of the European Union.

Nintendo commits to free repair of Switch Joy-Con — 07 April 2023, 00:10 CET

Japanese video game company Nintendo agreed Tuesday to offer all consumers the right to repair affected controllers of the 'Nintendo Switch' gaming console free of charge, even out of warranty.

Go-ahead for revamped EU product safety rules — 30 March 2023, 23:06 CET

The EU Parliament endorsed revised rules on product safety of non-food consumer products Thursday, aligning existing rules with latest developments in digitalisation and the surge in online shopping.

Energy prices, online safety major concerns for consumers — 27 March 2023, 18:09 CET

High energy prices caused by the fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and worries about safety and protection online topped the list of concerns listed in Monday's 2023 consumer scoreboard.

Consumer scoreboard — 27 March 2023, 18:00 CET

The European Commission is providing new information to assess consumers' needs in the Single Market and their response to multiple crises. The consumer conditions scoreboard aims to monitor the consumer environment across the EU. Its main data source is the Consumer Conditions Survey. Where relevant, data from other sources give contextual information. It is produced every two years.

EU to promote longer lasting, more repairable products — 23 March 2023, 18:40 CET

The EU Commission outlined plans Wednesday to promote the repair of goods, with the aim of setting an obligation for producers to repair products’ defects beyond the legal guarantee.

EU looks to crack down on misleading green claims — 22 March 2023, 17:49 CET

The European Commission set out rules Wednesday on how companies communicate to ensure misleading green claims and labels do not make it to the market in the first place.

European Green Claims - guide — 22 March 2023, 17:25 CET

The European Commission proposed on 22 March common criteria against greenwashing and misleading environmental claims. Under the proposal, consumers will have more clarity, stronger reassurance that when something is sold as green, it actually is green, and better quality information to choose environment-friendly products and services.

'Right to repair' - guide — 22 March 2023, 17:21 CET

The European Commission adopted on 22 March a new proposal on common rules promoting the repair of goods, further advancing towards the objective of sustainable consumption under the European Green Deal.

MEPs back new rules for fair access to and use of industrial data — 14 March 2023, 18:27 CET

The EU Parliament gave its approval Tuesday to the Data Act, which clarifies who can access data and on what terms, and empowers a wider range of private and public entities to share data.

EU electricity market reform to boost renewables, protect consumers — 14 March 2023, 18:17 CET

The European Commission proposed reforms to the EU's electricity market Tuesday, to speed up uptake in renewables and the phase-out of gas, and better protect consumers from future price spikes.

Revision of the EU's internal electricity market design - guide — 14 March 2023, 18:18 CET

The European Commission proposed on 14 March to reform the EU's electricity market design to accelerate a surge in renewables and the phase-out of gas, make consumer bills less dependent on volatile fossil fuel prices, better protect consumers from future price spikes and potential market manipulation, and make the EU's industry clean and more competitive.

Chemical substances top list of non-food health hazards in EU — 14 March 2023, 00:02 CET

Health risks linked to chemical substances were the most frequent type of risk notified to Europe's rapid alert system for dangerous non-food products, the EU Commission reported Monday.

EU raids fragrance industry premises in antitrust probe — 08 March 2023, 18:34 CET

The European Commission carried out unannounced inspections Tuesday at the premises of companies, and an association, active in the fragrance industry in various EU states.

WhatsApp promises EU to change practices — 06 March 2023, 22:16 CET

Following dialogue with consumer protection authorities and the EU Commission, the US WhatsApp messenger service committed Monday to being more transparent on changes to its terms of service.

Council agrees position on short-term rentals data — 06 March 2023, 22:25 CET

EU competitiveness ministers agreed Thursday a negotiating mandate for a regulation on data collection and sharing for short-term accommodation rental services.

Gigabit infrastructure to transform EU connectivity — 23 February 2023, 22:38 CET

The EU Commission presented a set of actions Thursday to make Gigabit connectivity available to all across the EU by 2030, with a view to enabling "transformation of the connectivity sector" in the EU.

MEPs back new rules for fair access and use of industrial data — 09 February 2023, 23:29 CET

A Euro-Parliament committee gave its backing Thursday to the 'Data Act', empowering a wider range of private and public entities to share data, while clarifying who can access data and on what terms.

Progress towards internal electricity market slow: EU auditors — 31 January 2023, 22:50 CET

Despite ambitious projections, the EU has made slow progress towards its goal of connecting electricity markets to ensure access to cheap power for citizens and businesses, EU auditors said Tuesday.

40 pct of online shops engaged in manipulative practices - EU report — 30 January 2023, 23:26 CET

148 out of 399 online shops screened by the EU in a "sweep" of online retail websites were found to engage in 'manipulative online practices, the European Commission announced on Monday.

Google introduces changes to comply with EU rules — 30 January 2023, 23:25 CET

With a view to aligning its practices with EU law - mainly on lack of transparency and clear information to consumers - Google committed Thursday to introduce changes in several of its products and services.

Brussels mulls revision of Late Payment Directive — 23 January 2023, 23:55 CET

The European Commission launched an open public consultation Friday to collect information on late or unfair payment practices and payment behaviour in commercial transactions.

MEPs look to tackle gaming addiction, and boost video games growth — 20 January 2023, 23:18 CET

The EU Parliament called Wednesday for gamers to be better protected from addiction and other manipulative practices, while emphasising the growth potential of this innovative sector.

European drinking water receives upgrade — 12 January 2023, 22:35 CET

Europeans are assured of improved quality and access to drinking water as of Thursday, when new requirements from the revised Drinking Water Directive became the norm across the EU.

43 pct websites broke EU rules during Black Friday — 19 December 2022, 23:25 CET

The Commission and national consumer protection authorities released Monday results of a website screening (sweep), aimed at verifying how price reductions were presented on Black Friday 2022.

New EU rules to protect consumers from taking on too much debt — 06 December 2022, 22:13 CET

MEPs reached a provisional deal with the EU Council Friday on a set of new measures to protect consumers from credit card debt, overdrafts and loans unsuitable for their financial situation.