The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 is a
statutory instrument in the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
made under the
European Communities Act 1972. It came into force on 26 May 2008. It is effectively the successor to the
Trade Descriptions Act 1968, which it largely repeals. It is designed to implement the
Unfair Commercial Practices Directive, as part of a common set of European minimum standards for consumer protection.
Contents
The Regulations introduce new rules about
consumer protection and the responsibility of businesses to trade fairly. It places a general duty on traders not to trade unfairly.
The regulations also include a blacklist of 31 banned trading practices.
Enforcement
In February 2011,
Safestyle UK became the first company to be prosecuted under the regulations. In an action brought by North Lincolnshire Council Trading Standards Department they were found guilty under paragraph 25, (ignoring a request not to return)
and fined £4000 with £18000 costs for repeatedly calling on a consumer in
Scunthorpe
Scunthorpe () is an Industrial city, industrial town and unparished area in the Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority of North Lincolnshire in Lincolnshire, England of which it is the main administrative centre. Scunthorpe had an es ...
.
See also
*
Unfair Commercial Practices Directive
*
Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Directive
The Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Directive''93/13/EECis a European Union directive (then called European Economic Community directive) governing the use of surprising or onerous terms used by business in deals with consumers.
National law
I ...
*
Product Liability Directive
*
English contract law
English contract law is the body of law that regulates legally binding agreements in England and Wales. With its roots in the lex mercatoria and the activism of the judiciary during the industrial revolution, it shares a heritage with countrie ...
*
EU law
European Union law is a system of rules operating within the member states of the European Union (EU). Since the founding of the European Coal and Steel Community following World War II, the EU has developed the aim to "promote peace, its value ...
Notes
External links
Text of the Regulations as enacted from the
Office of Public Sector Information
The Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) is the body responsible for the operation of His Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO) and of other public information services of the United Kingdom. The OPSI is part of the National Archives of the U ...
.
BBC News - New rules for consumer protection
United Kingdom contract law
2008 in British law
Statutory Instruments of the United Kingdom
Consumer protection in the United Kingdom
Consumer protection legislation
{{UK-law-stub