How the Legislation Effects You
New directives demand that instruction guides and leaflets must be:
- "Without shortcomings" or the Retailer and Manufacturer must provide a refund and may also be claimed for against Product Liability.
- Consumers can use "inadequate instructions" as a legitimate reason to obtain "a refund or replacement product."
- Consumers can "sue for the stress and damages" caused by poor instructions.
EU Directive 1999/44/EC on certain aspects of the sale of consumer goods and associated guarantees.
Part 1: Introduction
Directive 1999/44/EC on certain aspects of the sale of consumer goods and associated guarantees was adopted by the European Parliament and the Council on 25 May 1999 and published in the Official Journal on 7 July 1999 (L 171,07/07/1999 P 0012-0016).
The Directive has introduced important measures into the UK legislation on the sale of goods, such as the so called reverse burden of proof (for the first six months); a hierarchy of specific remedies, which have been defined before, and guarantees given to consumers has become legally binding in many cases.
Part 2: Summary of the main provisions of the directive purpose
The Directive aims to encourage consumers to take full advantage of the single market setting out common minimum standards of consumer rights throughout the European Union. In addition to the provisions on consumers' rights in relation to defective products, the directive also contains provisions of guarantees given to consumers without extra charge.
