In a modern industrial society that offers such a variety of goods and services, consumer
protection plays an increasingly important role. The vast variety of goods and services
often leaves the consumer to make a decision about a purchase without possessing all the
relevant information. The self-interest nature of consumers has led to the establishment of
consumer protection unions.
Prior to the Amsterdam Treaty, consumer policy was seen as the direct preserve of
the Member States. There was only a very small unit in the Commission concerned with
consumer protection and it was not very influential and being attached to the Internal
Market Directorate General. As a direct result of the BSE crisis consumer policy was
given a distinct Directorate General. The BSE crisis increased the power of the now
extremely influential European Parliament Committee for Environment and Consumers,
especially as regards the European Commission as this Committee contained and still
contains the rapporteur responsible for holding the Commission to task (threat of censure)
over the handling of the crisis and the subsequent re-shuffle of the Commission Services.
Competencies of the Commission Directorates General responsible for agriculture, for the
Internal Market and for the environment were transferred to the new Consumer
Directorate, which was established 1997. This has inevitably brought about a fundamental
policy shift in proposed EC legislation but also in the implementation of legislation
because of the number of comitology committees – ranging from scientific committees
for food (GMOs for example) to animal health and welfare and veterinary and
phytosanitary questions - have been transferred to the new Comitology Directorate
General.
The concept of consumer protection is neither an uniform regulated nor sharply
defined political area. Although it consists of various preventative measures, it is not an individual sector. The broad palette of enacted rulings clarifies the character of consumer
protection as task with relations to nearly every policy field. The individual measures go
so far as to establish standards for door-to-door sales, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, price
indication, and product liability as well as to establish regulations for toys, time sharing,
and the extension of credit to consumers. In terms of Article 153 paragraph 2 and Article
95 paragraph 3 EC, the demands of consumer protection must be taken into account in all
Community policies. [...]
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- I. Consumer protection in the context of Community law
- 1. Community competence in consumer protection.
- 2. The acquis communautaire on consumer protection
- a) Protection of the health and safety of the consumer
- b) Protection of economic interests.
- c) Reparation for damages.....
- d) Consumer information, education and access to justice & injunctions
- II. Public health in the context of Community law
- 1. Community competence in public health........
- 2. The acquis communautaire on public health
- III. Candidate Countries and consumer protection/public health..
- 1. The different provisions:
- 2. Participation in Community Programmes and Agencies.......
- 3. Implementation of the acquis in the Candidate Countries.
- 4. Conclusion..........\n
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This text delves into the intricacies of consumer protection and public health within the framework of European Community law, particularly focusing on the role and challenges faced by candidate countries. It examines the development of consumer protection policies, highlighting the importance of safeguarding consumer health and safety, protecting economic interests, and ensuring access to justice.
- The evolving landscape of consumer protection within the European Community
- The role of the acquis communautaire in shaping consumer protection and public health standards
- The challenges and opportunities for candidate countries in integrating and implementing EC law
- The interplay between consumer protection, public health, and the internal market
- The significance of the precautionary principle in risk management and consumer protection
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Chapter I examines the evolution of consumer protection within the framework of Community law. It explores the development of Community competence in this field, analyzing the acquis communautaire and its various aspects, including the protection of consumer health and safety, economic interests, and the provision of compensation for damages. Additionally, the chapter delves into the importance of consumer information, education, and access to justice.
Chapter II focuses on the role of public health within Community law. It explores the development of Community competence in this area, analyzing the acquis communautaire and its impact on public health policies.
Chapter III examines the specific situation of candidate countries in relation to consumer protection and public health. The chapter analyzes the provisions related to candidate country participation in Community programs and agencies, the implementation of the acquis in these countries, and the challenges and opportunities associated with this process.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Consumer protection, public health, European Community law, acquis communautaire, candidate countries, internal market, precautionary principle, health and safety, economic interests, consumer information, access to justice, implementation, integration.
- Quote paper
- Dr. Gerald G. Sander (Author), 2002, EC Consumer and Health Law in the Candidate Countries, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/7276
