Verbraucherrichtlinie

Verbraucherrichtlinie is commonly used to refer to the European Union directive 2011/83/EU on consumer rights. Adopted by the European Parliament and the Council in October 2011, it aims to harmonize core protections for consumers across the internal market, facilitate cross-border shopping and strengthen confidence in commerce with consumers. The directive entered into force in the mid-2010s after national transpositions and forms the basis for many national consumer protection rules.

The directive governs contracts between a consumer and a trader and covers both distance contracts (such as online purchases) and contracts concluded away from business premises. It sets requirements for pre-contractual information, including the identity of the trader, essential characteristics of goods or services, total price and delivery terms, and the trader’s rights and remedies. A key element is the right of withdrawal: consumers generally have a 14-day cooling-off period to return goods or cancel services without giving a reason, with certain return costs borne by the consumer unless the trader assumes them.

Conformity and remedies are also central. If delivered goods do not conform, consumers are entitled to remedies such as repair, replacement, price reduction, or contract termination; the directive harmonizes timelines for delivery and sets standards for liability and guarantees. Member states transpose the rules into national law, resulting in national consumer protection regimes that align with EU-wide standards; in many countries, national laws implement the directive through consumer code or civil code provisions.

Subsequent developments have supplemented the framework, notably directives from 2019 addressing digital content, digital services and the sale of goods to better reflect online markets and modern consumer expectations.