EU Guide to Consumer Affairs

Book abstract:

Over recent years, the issues of health and consumer protection have become priorities for the European Union. In part this is due to crises of consumer confidence, however the provisions of the Amsterdam Treaty have considerably enlarged the scope of EU consumer policy. This first edition of the 'EU Guide to Consumer Affairs' provides the reader with a comprehensive and up-to-date briefing on EU consumer policy from the perspective of the five recognised consumer rights: representation, health and safety, economic interests, access to justice, information and education.

The guide, published by The EU Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce in Belgium, includes: an extensive contact list covering the EU institutions, international organisations, non-governmental organisations and Member State governments; a view on general product safety, the precautionary principle, the new proposed European food authority, consumer contracts, e-commerce, product liability, alternative regulatory models, tobacco advertising; an insight into consumer affairs in the context of EU enlargement; a history of consumer policy at EU level; an overview of consumer affairs in the EU member states and the US; and a pull-out organigram of the Directorate General for Health and Consumer Protection of the European Commission.

The guide has an introduction by David Byrne, European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection.