Clarifying rules to strengthen consumer rights

Clarifying rules to strengthen consumer rights
(...) The rights of consumers will be clarified and updated, whether they shop at a local store or buy goods on line, under new EU rules as amended by the Internal Market Committee on Tuesday. The changes should boost consumer confidence in shopping across borders and secure a level playing field for businesses, thus enabling the single market to deliver its full potential. New rules to update existing EU legislation on the consumer should cover all purchases, whether made in a shop, by phone, postal order or on the doorstep. In particular, it should improve the rights of online shoppers, so as to boost consumer confidence and cross-border trade, said Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee MEPs in a vote on Tuesday afternoon. The amended text gives a foretaste of Parliament's position for negotiations with the Council on a new Directive on Consumer Rights. The new directive will determine what information should be given in contracts, how long a seller has to deliver a good, when risk is transferred from the seller to the consumer, the rights of the consumer to cancel a purchase or have a faulty good repaired or replaced. It also includes a list of contractual terms that should be treated as unfair throughout the EU. (...)