Directive 2005/29 - Unfair business-to-consumer commercial practices in the internal market and amending Council Directive 84/450/EEC, Directives 97/7/EC, 98/27/EC and 2002/65/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Regulation 2006/2004 (‘Unfair Commercial Practices Directive’)

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Contents

  1. Current status
  2. Key information
  3. Key dates
  4. Legislative text
  5. Original proposal
  6. Sources and disclaimer
  7. Full version
  8. EU Monitor

1.

Current status

This directive was in effect from June 12, 2005 until December 11, 2007 and should have been implemented in national regulation on June 12, 2007 at the latest.

2.

Key information

official title

Directive 2005/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2005 concerning unfair business-to-consumer commercial practices in the internal market and amending Council Directive 84/450/EEC, Directives 97/7/EC, 98/27/EC and 2002/65/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council (‘Unfair Commercial Practices Directive’)
 
Legal instrument Directive
Number legal act Directive 2005/29
Original proposal COM(2003)356 EN
CELEX number135 32005L0029

3.

Key dates

Document 11-05-2005
Publication in Official Journal 11-06-2005; Special edition in Croatian: Chapter 15 Volume 008,Special edition in Romanian: Chapter 15 Volume 014,OJ L 149, 11.6.2005,Special edition in Bulgarian: Chapter 15 Volume 014
Effect 12-06-2005; Entry into force Date pub. +1 See Art 20
12-12-2007; Application See Art 19
Deadline 28-11-2021; See Art 13.5
End of validity 11-12-2007; Partial end of validity Art. 14 Implicitly repealed by 32006L0114
29-12-2009; Partial end of validity Art. 16.1 Implicitly repealed by 32009L0022
13-06-2014; Partial end of validity Art. 15.1 Implicitly repealed by 32011L0083
16-01-2020; Partial end of validity Art. 16.2 Implicitly repealed by 32017R2394
18-06-2026; Partial end of validity Art. 15.2 Implicitly repealed by 32023L2673
31-12-9999
Transposition 12-06-2007; At the latest See Art 19

4.

Legislative text

11.6.2005   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 149/22
 

DIRECTIVE 2005/29/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

of 11 May 2005

concerning unfair business-to-consumer commercial practices in the internal market and amending Council Directive 84/450/EEC, Directives 97/7/EC, 98/27/EC and 2002/65/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council

(‘Unfair Commercial Practices Directive’)

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 95 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1),

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (2),

Whereas:

 

(1)

Article 153(1) and (3)(a) of the Treaty provides that the Community is to contribute to the attainment of a high level of consumer protection by the measures it adopts pursuant to Article 95 thereof.
 

(2)

In accordance with Article 14(2) of the Treaty, the internal market comprises an area without internal frontiers in which the free movement of goods and services and freedom of establishment are ensured. The development of fair commercial practices within the area without internal frontiers is vital for the promotion of the development of cross-border activities.
 

(3)

The laws of the Member States relating to unfair commercial practices show marked differences which can generate appreciable distortions of competition and obstacles to the smooth functioning of the internal market. In the field of advertising, Council Directive 84/450/EEC of 10 September 1984 concerning misleading and comparative advertising (3) establishes minimum criteria for harmonising legislation on misleading advertising, but does not prevent the Member States from retaining or adopting measures which provide more extensive protection for consumers. As a result, Member States' provisions on misleading advertising diverge significantly.
 

(4)

These disparities cause uncertainty as to which national rules apply to unfair commercial practices harming consumers' economic interests and create many barriers affecting business and consumers. These barriers increase the cost to business of exercising internal market freedoms, in particular when businesses wish to engage in cross border marketing, advertising campaigns and sales promotions. Such barriers also make consumers uncertain of their rights and undermine their confidence in the internal market.
 

(5)

In the absence of uniform rules at Community level, obstacles to the free movement of services and goods across borders or the freedom of establishment could be justified in the light of the case-law of the Court of Justice of the European Communities as long as they seek to protect recognised public interest objectives and are proportionate to those objectives. In view of the Community's objectives, as set out in the provisions of the Treaty and in secondary Community law relating to freedom of movement, and in accordance with the Commission's policy on commercial communications as indicated in the Communication from the Commission entitled ‘The follow-up to the Green Paper on Commercial Communications in the Internal Market’, such obstacles should be eliminated. These obstacles can only be eliminated by establishing uniform rules at Community level which establish a high level of consumer protection and by clarifying certain legal concepts at Community level to the extent necessary for the proper functioning of the internal market and to meet the requirement of legal certainty.
 

(6)

This Directive therefore approximates the laws of the Member States on unfair...


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This text has been adopted from EUR-Lex.

5.

Original proposal

 

6.

Sources and disclaimer

For further information you may want to consult the following sources that have been used to compile this dossier:

This dossier is compiled each night drawing from aforementioned sources through automated processes. We have invested a great deal in optimising the programming underlying these processes. However, we cannot guarantee the sources we draw our information from nor the resulting dossier are without fault.

 

7.

Full version

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  • 1. 
    COM (2001) 531 final

     
  • 2. 
    See The Green Paper on EU Consumer Protection, COM (2001) 531 final, the Follow-up communication to the Green Paper, COM (2002) 289 final, responses to consultations and studies available at:

     
  • 3. 
    Internal Market, Tourism and Consumer Council, 1 March 2002, see 6503/02 (Presse 41)

     
  • 4. 
    COM (2002) 289 final

     
  • 5. 
    Responses to the follow-up communication can be found at:

     
  • 6. 
    Insert details of report location on website when available

     
  • 7. 
    www.zew.de/erfstudyresults/

     
  • 8. 
    Economic Reform: report on the functioning of Community product and capital markets COM (2002) 743 final

     
  • 9. 
    COM (2001) 736 final

     
  • 10. 
    Eurobarometer 57.2 and Flash Eurobarometer 128: Public opinion in Europe: Views on business-to-consumer cross-border trade, 14 November 2002

     
  • 11. 
    europa.eu.int/comm/public_opinion/ flash/fl131_en.pdf

     
  • 12. 
    See the Extended Impact Assessment for a discussion of the sources of evidence used. GFA study available at europa.eu.int/comm/consumers/ cons_int/safe_shop/fair_bus_pract/index_en.htm.

     
  • 13. 
    Eurobarometer 58.1 Financial Services

     
  • 14. 
    Eurobarometer 57.2 and Flash Eurobarometer 128: Public opinion in Europe: Views on business-to-consumer cross-border trade, 14 November 2002

     
  • 15. 
    Ibid. 68% of respondents cited lower consumer protection standards as a very or fairly important factor. Base in each case: consumers who are less confident buying from another EU country than from their own country

     
  • 16. 
    1984/450/EC as last amended by 1997/55/EC

     
  • 17. 
    For further information see Extended Impact Assessment published with this proposal, section 1.4

     
  • 18. 
    Ibid.

     
  • 19. 
    Eurobarometer 57.2 and Flash Eurobarometer 128: Public opinion in Europe: Views on business-to-consumer cross-border trade, 14 November 2002. See also Extended Impact Assessment, section 1.3

     
  • 20. 
    europa.eu.int/comm/consumers/ cons_int/safe/_shop/fair/bus/pract/green/pap/comm/responses/ followup/business_europe/emota.pdf

     
  • 21. 
    europa.eu.int/comm/consumers/ cons_int/safe_shop/fair_bus_pract/green_pap_comm/responses_ followup/business_europe/easa.pdf

     
  • 22. 
    Eurobarometer 57.2 and Flash Eurobarometer 128: Public opinion in Europe: Views on business-to-consumer cross-border trade, 14 November 2002.

     
  • 23. 
    Findings of quantitative survey in Eurobarometer 57.2.

     
  • 24. 
    Eg Télefonica, Pernod Ricard, PartyLite, Nuskin, Nature's Own, Mary Kay, Herbalife, GNLD, Amway, Swedish Marketing Federation, BEUC, UK National Consumer Council and Consumers' Association, Federation of German Consumer Organisations (vzbv)

     
  • 25. 
    Further information on alternative approaches which were considered and rejected is contained in the Extended Impact Assessment published with this proposal.

     
  • 26. 
    Eg Directive 1999/44/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25.05.1999 on certain aspects of the sale of consumer goods and associated guarantees (OJ L 299 of 12.12.1995, pp 11-12); Directive 97/7/EC of the European Parliament and the Council, of 20.05.97, on the protection of consumers in respect of distant contracts. (JO L 144 of 04.6.1997, pp. 19-28); Council directive 93/13/EEC of 5 April 1993 on unfair terms in consumer contracts (OJ L 95 of 21.04.1993, pp. 29-34); Council directive 85/577/EEC of 20.12.1985 to protect consumer in respect of contracts negotiated away from business premises - door to door selling (OJ L 372 of 31.12.1985, pp. 31-33)

     
  • 27. 
    See eg Case C-315/92, Verband Sozialer Wettbewerb eV v. Clinique Labatories SNC and Estée Lauder Cosmetics GmbH (1994) ECR I-317; Case C-210/96, Gut Springheide GmbH v. Oberkreisdirektor des Kreises Steinfurt (1998) ECR I-4657

     
  • 28. 
    Directive 84/450/EEC (OJ L 250, 19.9.1984) as amended by Directive 97/55/EC

     
  • 29. 
    Council Directive 87/102/EEC of 22 December 1986 for the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning consumer credit and subsequent amendments. (OJ No. L 278, 11/10/1988, p. 33)

     
  • 30. 
    Directive 2000/31/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on certain aspects of information society services, in particular electronic commerce, in the Internal Market. (OJ L 178, 17/07/2000, pp.1-16)

     
  • 31. 
    Internal Market, Tourism and Consumer Council, 1 March 2002, see 6503/02 (Presse 41)

     
  • 32. 
    For instance Article 11 of Directive 97/7/EC

     
  • 33. 
    Ante

     
  • 34. 
    Article 10 of Directive 90/314/EEC, Article 11(1) of Directive 97/7/EC, Article 8 of Directive 98/6/EC, and Article 31 of the Consumer credit Proposal

     
  • 35. 
    Article 16 of Directive 97/7/EC, Article 7 of Directive 98/6/EC and Article 9 of Directive 1999/44/EC

     
  • 36. 
    OJ L
     
  • 37. 
    OJ C
     
  • 38. 
    OJ C
     
  • 39. 
    See The Green Paper on EU Consumer Protection, COM (2001) 531 final, the Follow-up communication to the Green Paper, COM (2002) 289 final, responses to consultations and studies available at:

     
  • 40. 
    'The follow-up to the Green Paper on Commercial Communications in the Internal Market' Communication from the Commission. COM(1998) 121 final 4.03.1998.

     
  • 41. 
    OJ No. L 250, 19.9.1984, page 17

     
  • 42. 
    OJ No. L 290, 23.10.1997, page 18

     
  • 43. 
    OJ No. L 166, 11.6.1998, page 51

     
  • 44. 
    OJ No L 144, 4.6.1997, page 19.

     
  • 45. 
    Internal Market, Tourism and Consumer Council, 1 March 2002, see 6503/02 (Presse 41)

     
  • 46. 
    COM (2002) 289 final

     
  • 47. 
    COM (2001) 531 final

     
  • 48. 
    COM (2001) 531 final

     
  • 49. 
    Council Directive 89/552/EEC of 3 october 1989 on the co-ordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the pursuit of television broadcasting activities, in OJ L298 of 17.10.1989, p.23, as amended by Directive 97/36/EC.

     
  • 50. 
    OJ L 144, 4.6.1997, page 19

     
  • 51. 
    OJ L 158, 23.6.1990, page 59

     
  • 52. 
    Internal Market, Tourism and Consumer Council, 1 March 2002, see 6503/02 (Presse 41)

     
  • 53. 
    OJ L 280, 29.10.1994, page 83

     
  • 54. 
    COM (2002) 289 final

     
  • 55. 
    OJ L 80, 18.3.1998, page 27

     
  • 56. 
    OJ L 311, 28.11.2001, page 67

     
  • 57. 
    OJ L 178, 17.7.2000, page 1

     
  • 58. 
    COM(2002) 443 final

     
  • 59. 
    OJ L 42, 12 .2.1987, page 48

     
  • 60. 
    OJ L 61, 10.3.1990, page 14

     
  • 61. 
    OJ L 101, 1.4.1998, page 17

     
  • 62. 
    OJ L 271, 9.1.2002, pages 16-24

     
  • 63. 
    OJ L 41, 13.2.2002, pp. 20-34

     
  • 64. 
    OJ L.9, 15.1.2003, p. 3

     
  • 65. 
    OJ L 345, 19.12.2002, pp.1-51

     
  • 66. 
    OJ L 228, 11.8.1992, pp. 1-23

     
  • 67. 
    For further information, see separate explanatory note.

     
  • 68. 
    COM (2001) 531 final

     
  • 69. 
    See The Green Paper on EU Consumer Protection, COM (2001) 531 final, the Follow-up communication to the Green Paper, COM (2002) 289 final, responses to consultations and studies available at:

     
  • 70. 
    Internal Market, Tourism and Consumer Council, 1 March 2002, see 6503/02 (Presse 41)

     
  • 71. 
    COM (2002) 289 final

     
  • 72. 
    Responses to the follow-up communication can be found at:

     
  • 73. 
    Insert details of report location on website when available

     
  • 74. 
    www.zew.de/erfstudyresults/

     
  • 75. 
    Economic Reform: report on the functioning of Community product and capital markets COM (2002) 743 final

     
  • 76. 
    COM (2001) 736 final

     
  • 77. 
    Eurobarometer 57.2 and Flash Eurobarometer 128: Public opinion in Europe: Views on business-to-consumer cross-border trade, 14 November 2002

     
  • 78. 
    europa.eu.int/comm/public_opinion/ flash/fl131_en.pdf

     
  • 79. 
    See the Extended Impact Assessment for a discussion of the sources of evidence used. GFA study available at europa.eu.int/comm/consumers/ cons_int/safe_shop/fair_bus_pract/index_en.htm.

     
  • 80. 
    Eurobarometer 58.1 Financial Services

     
  • 81. 
    Eurobarometer 57.2 and Flash Eurobarometer 128: Public opinion in Europe: Views on business-to-consumer cross-border trade, 14 November 2002

     
  • 82. 
    Ibid. 68% of respondents cited lower consumer protection standards as a very or fairly important factor. Base in each case: consumers who are less confident buying from another EU country than from their own country

     
  • 83. 
    1984/450/EC as last amended by 1997/55/EC

     
  • 84. 
    For further information see Extended Impact Assessment published with this proposal, section 1.4

     
  • 85. 
    Ibid.

     
  • 86. 
    Eurobarometer 57.2 and Flash Eurobarometer 128: Public opinion in Europe: Views on business-to-consumer cross-border trade, 14 November 2002. See also Extended Impact Assessment, section 1.3

     
  • 87. 
    europa.eu.int/comm/consumers/ cons_int/safe/_shop/fair/bus/pract/green/pap/comm/responses/ followup/business_europe/emota.pdf

     
  • 88. 
    europa.eu.int/comm/consumers/ cons_int/safe_shop/fair_bus_pract/green_pap_comm/responses_ followup/business_europe/easa.pdf

     
  • 89. 
    Eurobarometer 57.2 and Flash Eurobarometer 128: Public opinion in Europe: Views on business-to-consumer cross-border trade, 14 November 2002.

     
  • 90. 
    Findings of quantitative survey in Eurobarometer 57.2.

     
  • 91. 
    Eg Télefonica, Pernod Ricard, PartyLite, Nuskin, Nature's Own, Mary Kay, Herbalife, GNLD, Amway, Swedish Marketing Federation, BEUC, UK National Consumer Council and Consumers' Association, Federation of German Consumer Organisations (vzbv)

     
  • 92. 
    Further information on alternative approaches which were considered and rejected is contained in the Extended Impact Assessment published with this proposal.

     
  • 93. 
    Eg Directive 1999/44/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25.05.1999 on certain aspects of the sale of consumer goods and associated guarantees (OJ L 299 of 12.12.1995, pp 11-12); Directive 97/7/EC of the European Parliament and the Council, of 20.05.97, on the protection of consumers in respect of distant contracts. (JO L 144 of 04.6.1997, pp. 19-28); Council directive 93/13/EEC of 5 April 1993 on unfair terms in consumer contracts (OJ L 95 of 21.04.1993, pp. 29-34); Council directive 85/577/EEC of 20.12.1985 to protect consumer in respect of contracts negotiated away from business premises - door to door selling (OJ L 372 of 31.12.1985, pp. 31-33)

     
  • 94. 
    See eg Case C-315/92, Verband Sozialer Wettbewerb eV v. Clinique Labatories SNC and Estée Lauder Cosmetics GmbH (1994) ECR I-317; Case C-210/96, Gut Springheide GmbH v. Oberkreisdirektor des Kreises Steinfurt (1998) ECR I-4657

     
  • 95. 
    Directive 84/450/EEC (OJ L 250, 19.9.1984) as amended by Directive 97/55/EC

     
  • 96. 
    Council Directive 87/102/EEC of 22 December 1986 for the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning consumer credit and subsequent amendments. (OJ No. L 278, 11/10/1988, p. 33)

     
  • 97. 
    Directive 2000/31/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on certain aspects of information society services, in particular electronic commerce, in the Internal Market. (OJ L 178, 17/07/2000, pp.1-16)

     
  • 98. 
    Internal Market, Tourism and Consumer Council, 1 March 2002, see 6503/02 (Presse 41)

     
  • 99. 
    For instance Article 11 of Directive 97/7/EC

     
  • 100. 
    Ante

     
  • 101. 
    Article 10 of Directive 90/314/EEC, Article 11(1) of Directive 97/7/EC, Article 8 of Directive 98/6/EC, and Article 31 of the Consumer credit Proposal

     
  • 102. 
    Article 16 of Directive 97/7/EC, Article 7 of Directive 98/6/EC and Article 9 of Directive 1999/44/EC

     
  • 103. 
    OJ L
     
  • 104. 
    OJ C
     
  • 105. 
    OJ C
     
  • 106. 
    See The Green Paper on EU Consumer Protection, COM (2001) 531 final, the Follow-up communication to the Green Paper, COM (2002) 289 final, responses to consultations and studies available at:

     
  • 107. 
    'The follow-up to the Green Paper on Commercial Communications in the Internal Market' Communication from the Commission. COM(1998) 121 final 4.03.1998.

     
  • 108. 
    OJ No. L 250, 19.9.1984, page 17

     
  • 109. 
    OJ No. L 290, 23.10.1997, page 18

     
  • 110. 
    OJ No. L 166, 11.6.1998, page 51

     
  • 111. 
    OJ No L 144, 4.6.1997, page 19.

     
  • 112. 
    Internal Market, Tourism and Consumer Council, 1 March 2002, see 6503/02 (Presse 41)

     
  • 113. 
    COM (2002) 289 final

     
  • 114. 
    COM (2001) 531 final

     
  • 115. 
    COM (2001) 531 final

     
  • 116. 
    Council Directive 89/552/EEC of 3 october 1989 on the co-ordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the pursuit of television broadcasting activities, in OJ L298 of 17.10.1989, p.23, as amended by Directive 97/36/EC.

     
  • 117. 
    OJ L 144, 4.6.1997, page 19

     
  • 118. 
    OJ L 158, 23.6.1990, page 59

     
  • 119. 
    Internal Market, Tourism and Consumer Council, 1 March 2002, see 6503/02 (Presse 41)

     
  • 120. 
    OJ L 280, 29.10.1994, page 83

     
  • 121. 
    COM (2002) 289 final

     
  • 122. 
    OJ L 80, 18.3.1998, page 27

     
  • 123. 
    OJ L 311, 28.11.2001, page 67

     
  • 124. 
    OJ L 178, 17.7.2000, page 1

     
  • 125. 
    COM(2002) 443 final

     
  • 126. 
    OJ L 42, 12 .2.1987, page 48

     
  • 127. 
    OJ L 61, 10.3.1990, page 14

     
  • 128. 
    OJ L 101, 1.4.1998, page 17

     
  • 129. 
    OJ L 271, 9.1.2002, pages 16-24

     
  • 130. 
    OJ L 41, 13.2.2002, pp. 20-34

     
  • 131. 
    OJ L.9, 15.1.2003, p. 3

     
  • 132. 
    OJ L 345, 19.12.2002, pp.1-51

     
  • 133. 
    OJ L 228, 11.8.1992, pp. 1-23

     
  • 134. 
    For further information, see separate explanatory note.

     
  • 135. 
    Deze databank van de Europese Unie biedt de mogelijkheid de actuele werkzaamheden (workflow) van de Europese instellingen (Europees Parlement, Raad, ESC, Comité van de Regio's, Europese Centrale Bank, Hof van Justitie enz.) te volgen. EURlex volgt alle voorstellen (zoals wetgevende en begrotingsdossiers) en mededelingen van de Commissie, vanaf het moment dat ze aan de Raad of het Europees Parlement worden voorgelegd.
     
  • 136. 
    EUR-lex provides an overview of the proposal, amendments, citations and legality.