Brexit for consumers

In a Parliamentary briefing paper published this week, it warns that, even if the UK continues to apply all European standards, it will no longer benefit from the automatic recognition of those standards.

‘There is likely to be a need for a bilateral agreement which lays down the conditions under which the UK will accept conformity assessment results (eg testing or certification) from the EU and vice versa,’ the Law Society paper states.

‘An MRA would include relevant lists of designated laboratories, inspection bodies and conformity assessment bodies in both the EU and the UK. Such an agreement would help to promote trade in goods between the EU and UK, ensure consumers are getting safe products, and benefit industry by providing easier access to conformity assessment.’

In the paper, Effect of UK leaving the EU on consumers and consumer protection , the Law Society urges the government to negotiate protection for consumers, travellers and victims of motor accidents through continued participation in Brussels I, the Motor Insurance Directive and Rome I.

The Law Society welcomed the government’s commitment to continue taking part in Rome I, which sets out that a contract between a business and a consumer will be governed by the law of the country where the consumer lives. In August, the government committed to this position in its civil justice co-operation position paper.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister confirmed this week that the European Court of Justice will continue to have jurisdiction in the UK during any transition period.