EU: Agreement on consumer guarantees

The Council have adopted a Common Position on the proposal for a directive on consumer guarantees. The directive aims to ensure that consumers have uniform protection throughout the EU when purchasing goods. The legal guarantee period of two years for consumer goods, will apply both to new and secondhand goods, although in the case of secondhand goods this can be agreed between the parties for a shorter period. A hierarchy of remedies will exist for consumers, beginning with repair and replacement without charge, price reduction or recision of the contract. The consumer must notify the seller of any fault in the goods within two months.