Lords claim consumer rights face Brexit threat

Consumer rights could be in jeopardy after Brexit, the House of Lords has warned, claiming that the UK government has provided no information on consumer protection once Britain leaves the European Union.

The Lords’ EU justice sub-committee is to call on the government to explain exactly how it intends to ensure that UK citizens’ consumer rights will be protected and enforced after the UK leaves the European Union.

It warned that without the international mechanisms and agencies that support existing laws, regulation derived from European measures could be worthless.

It said that there was no clarification on issues such as how consumers would be able to complain about a faulty product manufactured or purchased in Europe, or how UK holidaymakers and business travellers would complain about hotel or hire car service while visiting a European country.

Baroness Kennedy of the Shaws, chairwoman of the committee, said: “The UK has spent 40 years shaping the body of law, including 90 European directives, to protect consumers across the EU. In a world where consumer protection is proven to be more effective through co-operation, the government must do everything it can to make sure the UK and the EU continue to work together.”