E-commerce Directive to be in UK law on 21st August

The new Regulations follow a period of public consultation by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Treasury on the UK’s approach to implementing the Directive. They will be made available on Friday from the Department of Trade and Industry’s web site.

A spokesman for the DTI told OUT-LAW.COM that only minor amendments have been made to the draft Regulations released for consultation, however no details were given.

E-commerce Minister Stephen Timms said:
“After extensive and detailed consultations, we have arrived at the right framework for UK businesses and consumers… The E-Commerce regulations are another important step towards making the UK the best place in the world to do e-commerce.”

The regulations include provisions for:

• the national law that will apply to on-line services;
• the information an on-line service provider must give a consumer, including discounts and offers in on-line advertising and how to conclude contracts on-line; and
• limitations on service providers’ liability for unlawful information they unwittingly carry or store.

The E-Commerce Directive was passed in June 2000 and was due to be implemented by Member States before 17th January 2002. Only three of the EU’s Member States met this deadline.

• The new Regulations
• The DTI is currently issuing revised guidance to accompany the new regulations and its response to comments received on their draft form. These, and the Regulations themselves
• The E-commerce Directive