ANPC announces that a series of very important changes for consumers in the European Union are being prepared through two new sets of rules prepared by the European Commission to strengthen consumer rights.
"The European Commission has proposed revisions to 2 sets of EU rules aimed at strengthening consumer rights in a world reshaped by digitization and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Commission has strengthened the safety net to protect EU consumers by ensuring, for example, that dangerous products are recalled from the market or that credit offers are presented to consumers in a clear, easy-to-read way on digital devices.
The proposal updates both the existing General Product Safety Directive and EU consumer credit rules designed to protect consumers.
The General Product Safety Regulation will address risks related to these new technology products, such as cyber security risks, as well as those related to online commerce, by introducing product safety rules for online marketplaces. It will ensure that all products reaching EU consumers, via online marketplaces or neighborhood shops, are safe, regardless of whether they come from the EU or outside the EU.
The revision of the Consumer Credit Directive states that credit information must be presented in a clear, digital-friendly way so that consumers are aware of the implications of their commitment. In addition, the directive will improve the rules on which creditworthiness is assessed, i.e. whether or not a consumer will be able to repay the loan. This is meant to avoid the problem of over-indebtedness. The regulation will require member states to promote financial education and ensure that debt advice is available to consumers.
"The new regulation will ensure that the markets fulfill their obligations, so that dangerous products do not end up in the hands of consumers," said Claudiu DOLOT, ANPC president.
