Buying popular electronic goods like digital cameras and music players on the internet is now much safer following a crackdown on problematic websites, the European Commission announced.
Eighty-four per cent of websites selling electronics, checked for breach of EU consumer rules, now comply with EU law, compared with only 44 per cent in 2009.
The “sweep” investigation was launched in May 2009 and carried out by national authorities in 26 member states, including Malta, Norway and Iceland. The problems identified included misleading information on consumer rights, incorrect prices and missing contact details of the trader. These sites have now been corrected and penalties have been imposed where necessary. The Commission also announced the initial findings of the 2010 Sweep targeting online sales of tickets for cultural and sporting events.
EU Health and Consumer Commissioner John Dalli said: “The sweeps are all about making sure that EU laws benefiting consumers are enforced with vigour, to deliver transparent pricing and truthful information. Today’s results show that the sweeps are working. The boost to consumer confidence which they can generate will also benefit reputable businesses. We are determined to continue these joint enforcement actions and already have the next problem sector in our sights”.
A “sweep” is an enforcement action led by the EU and carried out by national enforcement authorities. Member states carry out simultaneous, coordinated checks for breaches in consumer law in a particular sector. They contact operators about suspected irregularities and ask them to take corrective action.
The electronic goods sweep took place in May 2009. Enforcement authorities across Europe checked websites selling electronic goods for compliance with EU consumer law. Product categories selected for the check included personal music players, digital cameras and mobile phones. Since then, national authorities have followed up on the problematic sites, requesting corrections and imposing sanctions when necessary.