Green Paper on the Review of the Consumer Acquis

The European Commission has issued a Green Paper for all interested persons to express their views on the issues identified in the context of the Review of the Consumer Acquis launched in 2004.

The aim is to better achieve regulation goals by simplifying and completing the existing regulatory framework. The review covers the following eight directives:

• protection of the consumer in respect of contracts negotiated away from business premises;

• package travel, package holidays and package tours;

• unfair terms in consumer contracts;

• the protection of purchasers in respect of certain aspects of contracts relating to the purchase of a right to use immovable properties on a timeshare basis;

• protection of consumers in respect of distance contracts;

• consumer protection in the indication of the prices of products offered to consumers;

• injunctions for the protection of consumers' interests; and

• aspects of the sale of consumer goods and associated guarantees.

The Green Paper may be viewed on the Website: http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cons_int/safe_shop/acquis/index_en.htm and direct link: http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cons_int/safe_shop/acquis/green-paper_cons_acquis_en.pdf .

The public, as well as organisations, are urged to send comments and observations by May 15 (marked 'Responses to the Green Paper on the Review of Consumer Acquis') by e-mail to: SANCO-B2@ec.europa.eu.