CONSUMER PROTECTION

On 2 April 2019, the European Parliament and Council of EU Member States arrived at a provisional agreement on an EU Directive for tougher consumer protection rules, including regarding their enforcement. The main improvements to the already-existing body of EU consumer law are said to be heightened transparency for consumers when buying online, more robust enforcement and effective penalties, as well as clear rules to tackle the issue of dual quality of products in the EU. More

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission will hold a one-day hearing on 1 May on agenda priorities for fiscal year 2020, which begins on 1 October 2019, as well as its budget request for fiscal year 2021, which begins on 1 October 2020. Parties wishing to submit comments in connection with these matters must do so by 17 April. More

In case of a “no deal” Brexit, the UK government announced, on 2 February 2019, that it will introduce its own marking for conformity assessment, used to certify household products such as kettles or lightbulbs, electronics such as televisions, smartphones as well as toys. More

On 23 January 2019, the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (“ANSES” or “the Agency”) published an Opinion based on a Report relating to the safety of babies’ nappies. In its Opinion, ANSES assesses the risks of chemicals found in babies’ nappies, highlighting several chemicals for which safety thresholds are seen to have been exceeded, and provides a range of recommendations directed at manufacturers and at lawmakers. More