New Deal for consumers

The European Commission proposed today a New Deal for consumers to ensure that all European consumers fully benefit from their rights under EU law. The New Deal for consumers, which will build on what the Juncker Commission has already achieved to improve consumer protection, will empower qualified entities to launch representative actions on behalf of consumers and introduce stronger sanctioning powers for Member States' consumer authorities. It will also extend consumers' protection when they are online and clarify that dual quality practices misleading consumers are prohibited.

Concretely, the New Deal for consumers will strengthen consumer rights online with more transparency in online market places and more transparency on search results on online platforms. It will give consumers the tools to enforce their rights and get compensation ensuring better protection against unfair commercial practices.

Under the proposal, national consumer authorities will have the power to impose effective, proportionate and dissuasive penalties in a coordinated manner. For widespread infringements that affect consumers in several EU Member States, the available maximum fine will be 4 % of the trader's annual turnover in each respective Member State. Member States are free to introduce higher maximum fines.

Following up on the Commission's guidelines from September 2017, the New Deal for consumers will update the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive in order to make explicit that national authorities can assess and address misleading commercial practices involving the marketing of products as being identical in several EU countries, if their composition or characteristics are significantly different.

Transparency of scientific studies in the food safety area

In its weekly meeting the Commission responded to the concerns expressed by citizens in the 4th European Citizens' Initiative ("Ban glyphosate and protect people and the environment from toxic pesticides") and addressed peoples' concerns for a more transparent risk assessment in the agri-food chain.

The proposal, drawing also on the Commission's Fitness Check of the General Food Law, which dates back from 2002 and thus needs an update, will give citizens greater access to information submitted to the European Food Safety Authority on approvals concerning the agri-food chain. The initiative will provide the possibility for additional studies to be requested by the Commission and will involve Member States' scientists more closely in approval procedures.

With the proposal, citizens will be allowed to have automatic and immediate access to all safety related information submitted by the industry in the risk assessment process. A common European Register of commissioned studies will be created to guarantee that companies applying for an authorisation submit all relevant information and do not hold back unfavourable studies.

Upon request of the Commission and financed by the EU budget additional studies can be requested by the European Food Safety Authority. The proposal also foresees the increase of Member States' involvement in the European Food Safety Authority's governance structure and scientific panels.

Common actions are foreseen to enhance consumer confidence by promoting public awareness, understanding and explaining in a better way the scientific opinions expressed by the European Food Safety Authority, as well as the basis of risk management decisions.

Poland

First Vice-President Frans Timmermans debriefed the College on his visit to Warsaw earlier this week and the dialogue with the Polish authorities on the Rule of Law. He welcomed the fact that we are now in a concrete and detailed dialogue and working towards solutions, and will keep the College informed as the discussions evolve, notably in relation to a number of legislative changes which are currently being debated in the Polish Parliament and could address some of the Commissions concerns.

Audiovisual Material

Photo report – College meeting

Press Material

New Deal for consumers

Press release

MEMO: A New Deal for Consumers: Frequently Asked Questions

Factsheets on the New Deal for Consumers:

- New Deal benefits for consumers

- New Deal benefits for businesses

- Functioning of the collective redress

- Achievements of the Juncker Commission in the area of consumer protection

- Improved public enforcement with updated Consumer Protection Cooperation rules

Transparency of scientific studies in the food safety area

Press release

MEMO: Commission's proposal on transparency and sustainability of the EU risk assessment model in the food chain