Plan for single EU online shopping law good for customers and UK retailers, says BRC

Posted by: Robert Cotton | Last Updated: 11.10.2011

A new optional sales law that would apply throughout the EU is good news for customers and UK retailers, said the British Retail Consortium (BRC)

The European Commisssion has published its proposals for a Common European Sales Law today (Tuesday).

Sometimes called the 28th regime, it would allow businesses trading online to opt to make sales under a single, EU-wide contract law, rather than having to comply with the different national laws in each of the 27 member states.

That would give customers access to a wider choice of goods available online.

The new law would be optional for businesses but would provide a common high level of consumer protection for cross-border e-commerce purchases.

British Retail Consortium Director General Stephen Robertson, said:

"If the law for selling across the EU is simpler, UK retailers should be able to expand into many more markets.

"Of course, this is the start of the process. The details will be debated and no doubt amended by both the Council and the Parliament in the coming months – but this has the potential to boost British exports of goods throughout the EU and so boost growth and jobs in the UK. Britain has all the advantages of language and of having the EU's best developed online market.

"The UK Government must take a constructive approach in the negotiations to produce the maximum benefit for consumers and businesses."

Source: British Retail Consortium