Peers to examine impact of Brexit on consumer protection rights

A House of Lords sub-committee will tomorrow (25 April) begin a short inquiry into the implications of Brexit on consumer protection rights.

The House of Lords EU Justice Sub-Committee said ahead of the hearing: “Holidays cancelled at the last minute; personal injury due to defective products; and incorrect food labelling are some of the issues consumers are currently protected against by EU law. However, it remains unclear whether this significant body of EU law that protects the consumer rights of millions of people in the UK will continue to apply after Brexit.

“Beyond vague references to the general interests of consumers, the Government’s White Paper on Brexit did not address the issue of consumer protection at all.”

It added that the inquiry was intended to identify the Government’s priorities for addressing the rights of consumers during Brexit negotiations and "to address issues such as: whether the Great Repeal Bill is robust enough to ensure the continued protection of consumer rights and whether the UK’s high standards of protection for consumers is at risk of being weakened".

The committee will hear evidence tomorrow from Pete Moorey, Head of Campaigns at Which?, and Matt Upton, Head of Consumer Policy at the Citizens Advice Bureau.

The witnesses are to be questioned on:

• How should the Government conduct consumer protection related aspects of the Brexit negotiations?
• Which aspects of the EU’s consumer protection rules would should be retained when the UK leaves the EU?
• Are there any negative aspects of the EU consumer acquis that it would be beneficial for the UK to leave after Brexit?
• What impact will the UK’s departure from the EU have on the remaining Member States adherence to current consumer protection standards?
• Are there important areas of the consumer protection acquis that are not amenable to incorporation into UK law via the Great Repeal Bill? Without alternatives in place, will there be any gaps in the UK’s consumer protection laws?

​The evidence session will take place at 10.45 am in Committee Room 3 of the House of Lords. Evidence sessions are open to the public and can also be watched live on the internet at www.parliamentlive.tv.