Consumer protection

This overview is a guide to the content within the Consumer protection (EU Law) subtopic, with links to the appropriate materials. This subtopic examines EU regulations and directives which protect EU consumers and which should be considered in business-to-consumer (B2C) relationships.

Key EU consumer legislation

Prior to contracting or trading with EU consumers, it is important for traders to be aware of the EU legislation that governs B2C relationships. Practice Note: Key EU consumer legislation—summary sets out a brief description of key EU consumer legislation that businesses should consider when dealing with consumers. It covers the core legislation relevant when trading or contracting with consumers within the EU and other key legislation applicable to the B2C relationships in the context of advertising and labelling, data protection, e-commerce, payment, product liability and safety, provision of services, and consumer disputes and enforcement. It also covers sector-specific consumer legislation such as travel and transport. This Practice Note does not cover environmental and life sciences legislation.

To keep up to date with the latest changes in key EU consumer legislation, Practice Note: EU consumer protection—tracker tracks EU commercial legislation

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Latest EU Law News

Commission exempts pallet wrapping and straps from PPWR 100% reuse requirement

The European Commission has adopted a Delegated Act exempting pallet wrapping and straps used to secure goods during transport from the 100% reuse requirement under Regulation (EU) 2025/40 (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)). The Commission states that the decision reflects a balanced approach that supports circular economy objectives while recognising operational feasibility.

EU Financial Services—daily round-up (25 February 2026)

A round-up of EU financial services developments.

ESMA consults on guarantees as CCP collateral and investment policy standards following EMIR 3 review

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has launched a public consultation on draft regulatory technical standards (RTS) amending Commission Delegated Regulation 153/2013, following the review of the European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR 3). The consultation seeks views on conditions for central counterparties (CCPs) to accept public guarantees, public bank guarantees and commercial bank guarantees as collateral, conditions for debt instruments as eligible financial instruments for CCP investment policy, and highly secured arrangements for emission allowances posted as margins or default fund contributions. EMIR 3 permanently broadens the types of guarantees acceptable as eligible collateral and extends scope to clients of CCPs that are non-financial counterparties. The consultation closes on 30 April 2026, with ESMA expected to submit final draft RTS to the European Commission by end-2026.

European Commission adopts delegated regulation amending prospectus classification and incorporation by reference rules

The European Commission has adopted a Commission Delegated Regulation amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/979 to update prospectus classification metadata and expand incorporation by reference provisions. The amendments reflect the new prospectus types introduced by Regulation (EU) 2024/2809 under the Listing Act, including the EU Follow-on and EU Growth issuance prospectuses, and integrate requirements relating to European Green Bonds under Regulation (EU) 2023/2631. The Regulation permits incorporation by reference of documents approved under the former Prospectus Directive and pre-issuance disclosures for environmentally sustainable or sustainability-linked bonds. The measures are based on ESMA regulatory technical standards, with certain provisions applying from 10 July 2026.