Consumer Goods & Retail

Consumer markets evolve daily through technology, supply-chain shifts, and heightened regulatory oversight. Every product, transaction, and marketing message must reflect fair-trade standards, accurate labelling, and compliance with consumer-rights legislation. We create integrated legal strategies for distribution networks, franchising systems, and e-commerce operations. Our team addresses product-safety incidents, unfair-practice allegations, and competition-law challenges across multiple jurisdictions. We also support sustainable-production and ESG initiatives, aligning corporate commitments with regulatory expectations. The outcome is an operational model that protects brand reputation while maintaining commercial agility in one of the world’s most scrutinised sectors.

Relevant Legislation

European Legislation

Unfair Commercial Practices Directive 2005/29/EC – establishes a single EU-wide standard for fair marketing and consumer protection. It prohibits misleading, deceptive, or aggressive business practices that could distort consumer decisions, ensuring that advertising, promotions, and sales communications are honest, transparent, and fair across the internal market.
Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EU (as amended by Omnibus Directive (EU) 2019/2161) – sets out core EU rules on contracts between traders and consumers, covering distance, online, and in-store sales. It ensures clear information, withdrawal rights, and fair pricing, while the 2019 Omnibus amendments strengthen digital transparency, online review authenticity, and penalty rules for unfair commercial practices in the modern marketplace.
Price Indication Directive 98/6/EC (amended by (EU) 2019/2161) – The Price Indication Directive ensures that consumers are clearly informed about product prices, requiring traders to display the final selling price and unit price of goods. The 2019 amendment introduced stricter rules for price reductions and promotional claims, guaranteeing transparency and preventing misleading discount practices across the EU retail market.
Directive (EU) 2024/2853 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2024 on liability for defective products and repealing Council Directive 85/374/EEC (Text with EEA relevance) – This Directive modernises the EU’s product liability framework, replacing the 1985 rules with a system adapted to digital, connected, and AI-driven products. It establishes clearer principles for compensation when defective goods cause damage, covering both physical and digital components. The reform strengthens consumer protection, manufacturer accountability, and legal certainty in an era of smart technologies and complex supply chains.
General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988 – The General Product Safety Regulation sets the EU’s modern framework for consumer product safety, ensuring that all goods on the market are safe, traceable, and compliant, both online and offline. It introduces stricter rules for risk assessment, product recalls, and online marketplace responsibilities, enhancing consumer protection and trust across the European single market.
Geo-blocking Regulation (EU) 2018/302 – The Geo-blocking Regulation prohibits unjustified online sales restrictions based on a customer’s nationality, residence, or location within the EU. It ensures equal access to goods and digital services across Member States, promoting fair competition and a truly border-free digital single market.
Digital Services Act (EU) 2022/2065 – The Digital Services Act creates a comprehensive legal framework for online platforms and digital intermediaries across the EU. It sets clear rules for content moderation, transparency, and accountability, ensuring safer digital spaces, responsible advertising, and greater protection for users in the online environment.