Press Release: Consumer rights: European Commission asks the Czech Republic to comply with rules on the right to return faulty goods; closes case against Greece

The European Commission has sent a formal request to the Czech Republic to ensure full compliance with the EU's Directive on the sale of consumer goods. In the so-called “reasoned opinion” (the second stage of EU legal action), the Commission asked the Czech Republic to remove restrictions on consumers' right to return faulty goods. The Czech Republic has two months to respond to the reasoned opinion under EU infringement procedures, failing which the Commission may refer the case to the EU’s Court of Justice. Meanwhile, the Commission closed infringement proceedings against Greece after it improved rules on the sale of consumer goods. The Commission had sent a reasoned opinion to Greece in March 2010, requesting Greece to amend its legislation to ensure that Greek consumers enjoyed the full protection of EU rules.