On 12 April 2018 the European Council adopted rules on cross border parcel deliveries to boost e-commerce. During the drafting of the legislation, on behalf of ANEC (The European Consumer Voice in Standardisation), I provided the European Parliament with evidence of:
- The lack of transparency around pricing
- Damage to goods in transit
- Problems relating to third party courier services
- Poor communication
- Irresponsible delivery
I later assisted the European Parliament in drafting amendments to the legislation to include these consumer requirements and ANEC helped the Parliament to maintain these amendments through to the adopted legislation against opposition from the European Commission.
These rules will greatly benefit consumers and increase consumer confidence in cross border purchases, especially but not only, in e-commerce transactions. They will provide information about different delivery options and delivery tariffs will be published on a website, which will help users choose the best rates. Increased transparency should help create competitive pressure. The new rules are expected to be of particular benefit to consumers and small retailers, who do not have the bargaining power to negotiate better rates.
This is an important success for consumers where we have influenced draft European legislation to ensure that consumer protection measures are adopted that would otherwise not have been included in the Regulation. Consumers should also be grateful to Lucy Anderson MEP, rapporteur for the legislation at the European Parliament, for championing our consumer interests and maintaining that support against opposition during the passage of the legislation through EU adoption procedures.
Brexit Postscript
This blog demonstrates that ANEC provides an effective mechanism for consumers to influence European legislation that is related to the organisation’s primary role of providing a consumer voice in European Standardisation. From the United Kingdom perspective, European Standards will continue to be important for UK consumers and British businesses in providing a high level of consumer protection, especially where businesses are exporting to the EU. UK consumer organisations are very keen to ensure that we maintain membership of ANEC and continue to have an influential role in the development of European Standardisation and related legislation.
Arnold Pindar
Chairman,
National Consumer Federation