Consumer protection landscape
The Government launched its proposals to reform the current landscape of consumer protection on 21 June with the aim of delivering better protection and advice for the consumer.
The consultation ‘Empowering and Protecting Consumers’ (PDF, 487 Kb) , sets out Government proposals to simplify the provision of consumer protection to ensure that consumer advice, representation and enforcement are delivered effectively and efficiently. The objectives of the reforms are:
- to reduce the number of public funded bodies involved in consumer advice and representation;
- strengthen the effectiveness of consumer enforcement; and
- deliver more cost efficient consumer protection, closer to the consumer front line.
To achieve these objectives the Government proposes that in future, responsibility for each aspect of consumer advice, representation and enforcement should rest mainly with one of three key institutions: the Citizens Advice Service; Trading Standards and the proposed new Competition and Markets Authority.
The consultation closed on 27 September. 185 responses were received and these are currently being considered. The Government's response to the Review will be issued early in the New Year.
