Under the proposals, trading standards departments will for the first time have the power to ensure that traders comply with their civil obligations to consumers. At present they can only enforce those provisions of consumer protection legislation which carry criminal sanctions.
The original Stop Now Orders (EC Directive) Regulations came into force on 1st June 2001, giving consumer protection bodies the power to apply to courts for Stop Now Orders to stop traders from infringing specified legislation where the infringements harm the collective interests of consumers. Failure to comply with a Stop Now Order amounts to contempt of court, which can be punished by fines or imprisonment.
The new proposal would add the consumer protection elements of the E-commerce (EC Directive) Regulations to the existing list of legislation covered by Stop Now Orders.
The proposal document (incorporating the draft Regulations).
Comments should be e-mailed to [email protected] not later than 5th July 2002.