Europe: Consumer Protection

Advanced 'super shoes' are transforming elite running performance, but as technology accelerates, so do critical questions around product safety, regulatory compliance and commercial liability. Following the 2026 London Marathon, where both winners wore Adidas' latest carbon-plated footwear, legal experts examine how brands, athletes and governing bodies must navigate the complex intersection of innovation, World Athletics regulations and potential litigation risks.

The UK's automated vehicles regime enters a critical new phase as the Department for Transport prepares a 2026 consultation on the wider regulatory framework following the Automated Vehicles Act 2024. This consultation will address operational, insurance and liability issues that will determine how claims are handled and risks priced in the emerging self-driving vehicle ecosystem. For insurers, this represents a pivotal opportunity to shape the future claims, liability and data-sharing framework that will u

Switzerland is implementing binding product law requirements for circular economy principles, marking a significant shift in how businesses must approach product design, manufacturing, and lifecycle management. This mini-series explores the legal implications and compliance obligations for companies operating in or trading with Switzerland.

The European Union's Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive took effect on 27 September 2026, leaving many brands with old stock carrying environmental claims that may no longer comply with the new rules. The EU's Consumer Protection Cooperation Network has issued guidance clarifying how national authorities will approach products, packaging, and marketing materials that remain in circulation, confirming that businesses must comply from the application date with only limited exceptions

Danish businesses planning Black Friday and Christmas campaigns must navigate complex price marketing regulations that govern reference prices and discount periods. A recent DKK 4.25m fine highlights the risks of non-compliance...

As Black Friday and Black Week approach Danish retailers, businesses must carefully navigate complex pricing regulations that govern how discounts can be advertised. A recent 4.25 million DKK fine for misleading price marketing demonstrates the serious consequences of non-compliance, making proper campaign planning essential for both November sales events and subsequent holiday promotions.

The UK Competition and Markets Authority has exercised its new consumer enforcement fining powers for the first time under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, targeting AA and BSM Driving Schools for unlawful drip pricing practices. This landmark case reveals the CMA's five-step penalty framework and highlights critical distinctions between consumer and competition law fines that will shape enforcement strategies across UK markets.

The European Union has enacted its most comprehensive overhaul of passenger rights legislation in over twenty years, introducing significant operational changes for airlines while maintaining the core architecture of the existing compensation framework. With implementation required by October 2027, carriers face expanded obligations around automatic reimbursements, rerouting rights, and assistance provisions, alongside new clarity on extraordinary circumstances and claims procedures.

The Law Commission is considering whether the UK should introduce a new opt-out class action regime to make it easier for groups of consumers to bring claims relating to unlawful business practices. This potential reform could significantly change how large-scale consumer claims are handled, particularly where many people have been affected by the same conduct, though questions remain about how to ensure compensation reaches those entitled to it.

On 16 September 2026, the Swiss National Council voted for an amendment to the Swiss Insurance Supervision Act ("ISA") exempting, in particular, untied reinsurance intermediaries from mandatory registration and supervision...

The ASA's recent Jaded London ruling demonstrates that advertisers can breach CAP Code Rule 1.3 through lifestyle imagery and creative choices alone, even without express harmful claims. This analysis examines how the rule operates, what businesses need to consider when reviewing campaign materials, and why social responsibility assessments should extend beyond headline copy to encompass the entire creative execution.

27 Haziran 2026 tarihli ve 33293 sayılı Resmî Gazete’de yayımlanan Yenilenmiş Ürünler Hakkında Yönetmelik (“Yönetmelik”), 1 Ağustos 2026 tarihinde yürürlüğe girmiştir.