Internet shopping. The European Parliament has adopted new rules. Big changes

Buyers through – especially through commercial platforms, such as the popular Amazon, eBay or AliExpress – have often had problems with complaints or returns of purchased products. When the store was based outside of China, e.g. in China, or when the seller used only a nickname during the transaction and did not provide exact contact details, but only a post office box number, it was even difficult to determine the person responsible for the product, not to mention making claims. Now this is about to change, as the European Parliament approved on Thursday (March 30, 2023) new EU rules on product safety.

Refundable purchases. A revolution in online commerce?

Buyers on online platforms will now have the right to return or exchange purchased products if they are found to be non-compliant with EU safety standards. When the product is defective, they will be able to demand that the platform repair it or refund the money if it turns out that the product has been withdrawn from sale. It will be up to the buyers to decide what to do next.

Online platforms will be required to cooperate with market surveillance authorities and monitor product safety. If an item proves to be risky for users, they will have up to two working days to remove it from sale or block access to it. The platforms will also have to directly, e.g. by e-mail, inform people who have purchased a given product that it has been withdrawn and offer them the already mentioned possibility of exchange, repair or refund.

Special channels will be made available to consumers and consumer organizations through which they can report unsafe or problematic products . – Platforms will have to ensure that the unsafe product does not go back on sale. And consumers will finally be informed about which products are disappearing from the market and will be able to demand money for them, said Czech MEP Dita Charanzova from Renew, the rapporteur of the regulation, during the debate preceding the vote.

Dangerous products still in use

Dangerous goods are rarely returned. It is estimated that one third of consumers in the Union still use such products; consumers either don’t know where to send them back or they simply don’t even know they’re defective. The issues are publicized by consumer organizations.

– We often come across unsafe products on online platforms and this is a problem that has persisted for years. For example, recently the British consumer group Which? found faulty electric heaters on sale, the use of which could cause a fire, or electric blankets that electrocuted users, says DW Laurens Rutten of the EU consumer organization BEUC.

The Union has an early warning system for dangerous products entering the common market. It shows that the largest group here are toys and products for children in general; some time ago there was a lot of talk about car seats that did not meet safety standards, which were constructed in such a way that the seat belts suffocated children. Every fourth such defective item is sold online, every second comes from China.

Defective product? Customers will be able to return purchases

Now, products from third countries can only be sold in the EU if their manufacturer, importer or distributor is based in the European Union and is responsible for their safety. This will also apply to online sales. Thanks to this, consumers will know who to turn to if a product is faulty or if they want to exchange, return or repair it. ‘Every product sold has to be held accountable by someone in the EU,’ said Dita Charanzova.

For the first time, the assessment of product security will also have to take into account their cybersecurity. This mainly applies to products connected to the Internet, such as webcams or speakers, especially since there have already been situations where devices of this type, for example, recorded users without their knowledge.

Interactive toys, which can interact with children thanks to software, also turned out to be dangerous. A few years ago, Germany withdrew the Cayla doll from sale when it turned out that it could be easily hacked and used to spy on children. Now platforms will have to ensure that the products in question are actually safe. Importantly, information on product safety and the legal options consumers can take will need to be formulated in clear and easy-to-understand language. Legally, consumers will be able to file collective actions against dishonest producers.

EU officials predict that the new rules will save consumers about €1 billion in the first year of application and about €5.5 billion in the next decade. Today, accidents caused by unsafe products cost €11.5 billion a year and €6.7 billion in healthcare costs.

The article comes from the site