Consumers in the EU will be better protected from dangerous products in the future. On Tuesday in Luxembourg, the EU states gave the green light for new guidelines, according to which consumers can choose between repairs, a replacement product or a refund for recalled items. According to the information, one must be able to choose between at least two options in the future. The European Parliament had already approved the project at the end of March.
Especially on the Internet, dangerous articles should be withdrawn from circulation more quickly. “If we are serious about our digital transformation, we need to ensure that citizens have confidence in the safety of what they are buying,” said Sweden’s Public Administration Minister Erik Slottner.
In addition, online marketplaces such as Ebay or Amazon must work more closely with the supervisory authorities. The German Ministry for Consumer Protection said that the implementation of this will be closely monitored. According to information from the EU states, the national authorities can order that dangerous products must be removed from the marketplaces.
The new rules are expected to come into force in the coming weeks. EU countries must apply the requirements after a transitional period of one and a half years. (dpa)