Press Release: Taking consumer rights into the digital age: over 507 million citizens will benefit as of today

The new EU Consumer Rights Directive entered into force 13 June 2014. The directive strengthens consumers' rights wherever and whenever they shop in Europe – online or on the high street. Businesses will also benefit from these new rules which create a level-playing field, making it less costly for traders to offer their products and services to consumers across borders. The new rules will for example ensure that EU-wide, consumers have 14 days to change their minds and pull out of any online purchase or off-premises purchase (when a seller visits the consumer's home) – up from the previous minimum 7 days.

The European Commission put forward the proposal for a new set of consumer rights in October 2008. The final agreement between the European Parliament and the Council on the Consumer Rights Directive was brokered by EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding in June 2011, and the legislation was formally adopted on 10 October 2011. Governments had two years to implement the rules at national level by 13 December 2013, with a deadline for the rules to actually enter into force by 13 June 2014.

European Commission: DG: Justice: Consumer and marketing law http://ec.europa.eu/justice/consumer-marketing/

European Commission: RAPID: MEMO/11/675: New EU rules on consumer rights to enter into force http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-11-675_en.pdf

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