Principles and practices of consumer's protection within the European Union

Extract

[...] Part Two: The Consumer Protection in Practice Selected Examples of EU Achievements The three major topics the European Union deals with as regards consumer policy are: - consumer safety; - protection of consumers' economic and legal interests; - consumer information. Chapter One: Consumer Safety Consumer Health General Principles: The free movement of safe and wholesome food is a key principle in the smooth functioning of the internal market. Since differences between the food laws of the Member States may hamper the free movement of foodstuffs, it is necessary to define at EU level a common basis for measures governing human food and animal feed. [...]

[...] Chapter Two: Protection of Consumers' Economic and Legal Interests Electronic Commerce General Principles: The Directive on electronic commerce (Directive 2000/31/EC of the European Parliament and the Council, June 2000) aims at stimulating economic growth, competitiveness and investment by removing the many legal obstacles to the internal market in online provision of electronic commerce services. The legal framework in the Member States is unclear because of the disparities between some of the legislation applicable to information society services. This has created considerable legal uncertainty. [...]

[...] Part One: The Principles of the Consumer Protection - An Overview of EU Policy Chapter One: Institutional Background Consumer protection is basically dealt with in Article 153 of the European Community Treaty, which was inserted by the Treaty of Maastricht (1992). It is intended to promote consumers' health, safety, economic and legal interests and their right to information. According to Article 153.1 TEC, consumer protection includes: - the right to protection of health and safety; - the right to protection of economic interests; - the right to damages; - the right to information and education; - the right to representation. [...]

[...] Participation in the EFSA is open to the Member States of the European Union and to other countries applying EU food safety law. More precisely, the Authority's main tasks are: - To provide the European institutions and the Member States with the best possible scientific advice on its own initiative or at the request of the Commission, the European Parliament or a Member State. - The Authority's independent scientific opinions have to do with matters of food safety and other related issues (animal and plant health, GMOs, nutrition, etc They serve as a basis for policy decisions. [...]

[...] Conclusion According to the Commission, here are the ten basic principles of the consumer protection within the European Union: 1. Buy what you want, where you want 2. If it doesn't work, send it back 3. High safety standards for food and other consumer goods 4. Know what you are eating 5. Contracts should be fair to consumers 6. Sometimes consumers can change their mind 7. Making it easier to compare prices 8. Consumer should not be misled 9. Protection while you are on holiday 10. [...]