The Malta-EU Steering and Action Committee and the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority will be organising a consultation session on the ‘Liability of the producer for damage caused by a defective product’.
The main objective of this session is to provide information on Directive 85/374/EEC, which lists the responsibilities and liabilities of producers in the event of damage caused by malfunctioning products. This directive gives consumers the right to claim financial compensation for death or personal injuries, as well as for damage caused to an item of property intended for private use.
Another important purpose of this consultation session is to collect stakeholders’ feedback on the application and performance of the directive on liability for defective goods.
The European Commission recently launched a public consultation to assess whether and to what extent the directive meets its objectives of guaranteeing, at European Union level, the strict liability of the producer for damage caused by a defective product, while also ensuring the free movement of goods and offering in an efficient way a high degree of protection to EU consumers. The evaluation will also assess if the directive is fit for purpose vis-à-vis the new technological developments, such as the Internet of Things and autonomous systems.
The session coincides with World Consumer Rights Day
The consultation session will be held on Wednesday at 10am at the Fortifications Interpretation Centre, St Mark Street, Valletta.
On this same day the world celebrates consumer rights as it marks the anniversary when in 1962 President John F. Kennedy addressed the US Congress on the issue of consumer rights.
On this same occasion, President Kennedy declared four basic consumer rights: the right to safety, the right to choose, the right to information and the right to be heard.
Eventually, over the years, these four rights became eight as the right to satisfaction of basic needs, the right to redress, the right to education and the right to a healthy environment were added to the original four.
The public and interested stakeholders are invited to attend this consultation session. To register your attendance, contact MEUSAC on consult.meusac@gov.mt or call 2200 3300 by not later than Tuesday.
odette.vella@mccaa.org.mt
Odette Vella is director, Information, Education and Research Directorate, Office for Consumer Affairs, Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority.