DEPARTMENT FOR
BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM News Release (2008/048)
issued by The Government News Network on 3 March 2008
The Government has
today laid draft regulations in Parliament for a new law that will
protect consumers from aggressive and other unfair sales practices.
Consumer Affairs Minister Gareth Thomas confirmed that if
approved in debate the Consumer Protection Regulations (CPRs) will
come into force on 26 May 2008.
Gareth Thomas said:
"This law is good news for consumers, honest businesses and
Trading Standards and the OFT, which will enforce it.
"It delivers better protections for consumers, cuts red tape
and puts in place a simpler and clearer consumer law that will be
easier to interpret and enforce.
"The final timetable takes into account the views of
business and gives everyone suitable time to prepare."
The CPRs will ban 31 types of unfair sales practices outright
including, bogus closing down sales, prize draw scams, and
aggressive doorstep selling. They will also for the first time
establish a catch-all duty not to trade unfairly, closing
loopholes that rogue traders have previously been able to exploit.
The regulations benefit honest businesses by simplifying consumer
protection legislation and driving out the rogues. They replace
and improve on provisions in 23 pieces of existing legislation -
establishing a modern framework fit for the 21st Century that is
easy for consumers, businesses and enforcers to understand.
The final implementation timetable of 26 May 2008 has been
decided following consultation with business who asked for more
time to prepare for the new rules.
Notes to Editors:
1. The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations
implements the European Commission's Unfair Commercial
Practices Directive (UCPD). The UCPD will establish consistency of
trading across the EU, making it easer to market goods and
services to an internal market of 460 million consumers.
2. The EC Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (UCPD) was
adopted on 11 May 2005.
3. Most provisions of the regulations will be enforceable by both
criminal and civil sanctions. A wide range of sanctions will be
available, depending on the seriousness of the offence, from
guidance and codes of conduct to unlimited fines and lengthy
prison sentences.
4. The Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
helps UK business succeed in an increasingly competitive world.
It promotes business growth and a strong enterprise economy, leads
the better regulation agenda and champions free and fair markets.
It is the shareholder in a number of Government-owned assets and
it works to secure, clean and competitively priced energy supplies