Negotiators from the European Parliament and the EU states have agreed on stricter rules to protect consumers when buying online. Online retailers and other companies in the supply chain are to bear more responsibility for the products they sell in the future, according to a compromise agreed on Tuesday night. One of the aims is for dangerous products to be quickly recalled from the market.
This involves, for example, goods that are bought online – for example from Amazon – and delivered from a non-EU country. “As a result, products that do not meet our safety standards end up in the internal market,” emphasized Anna Cavazzini (Greens), Chairwoman of the Internal Market Committee in the EU Parliament. She spoke of an overdue adjustment to the requirements of online shopping.
In the future, a so-called responsible person will have to check whether manufacturer information on EU safety standards is correct and whether these are also met. Under certain circumstances, this person would then also be liable for damage caused by defective products, said SPD MEP René Repasi. This is intended to encourage responsible companies to inform their customers better and faster, for example in the event of recalls. An extended warranty period is also provided for buyers, during which they are entitled to have dangerous products replaced, repaired or refunded.
According to the European Parliament, the new regulations should save consumers in the EU around one billion euros in the first year and around 5.5 billion euros over the next ten years.
The compromise still has to be formally approved by the EU states and the European Parliament. The new rules are to come into force after a transitional period of 18 months. (dpa)