About: BEUC
Google, Facebook and Twitter face fines as EU grows ‘impatient’ with lax consumer rules
Google, Facebook and Twitter could face fines if they do not change their user conditions to meet the European Commission's demands.
EU adopts first restrictions on cancer-causing acrylamide in food
Representatives of the EU’s 28 member states voted yesterday (19 July) in favour of a European Commission proposal to reduce the presence in food of acrylamide, a known carcinogenic substance present in fries, crisps, bread, biscuits, or coffee.
Mobile roaming fees disappear, but MEPs want more EU rules
European mobile phone contracts are required to charge domestic rates for calls, SMS and data use when users travel in the EU starting today (15 June), capping off a ten-year fight to get rid of roaming fees.
EU fines Facebook €110 million over WhatsApp deal
European Union antitrust regulators fined Facebook €110 million on Thursday (18 May) for giving misleading information during a vetting of its deal to acquire messaging service WhatsApp in 2014.
New energy labels on household appliances could save hundreds on energy bills
An agreement on draft legislation of energy labels for household appliances was reached by the European Parliament and the Council of the Ministers on Tuesday.
Lawmakers warn EU pharma industry about drug pricing
Pressure is mounting on pharmaceutical companies to reconsider the way they do business by refocusing their efforts on meeting patient needs and health outcomes rather than their own profits.
Commission pushes vote on acrylamide safety into 2017
A vote on the European Commission’s draft regulation on acrylamide, a contaminant formed in foods when cooked at high temperatures, will take place next year, an EU spokesperson told EURACTIV.com.
EU drugs agency to unveil results on ‘early medicines’ project this week
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) will this week publish the much-awaited results of a pilot project on the early marketing authorisation of drugs, EURACTIV has learnt.
EU health ministers confront crisis in affordability of medicines
EU health ministers took reluctant steps last Friday (17 June) to address the rising price of medicines.
New medical devices rules should avoid ‘unnecessary’ red tape, industry says
The implementation of new rules on medical devices should avoid extra burdens and unnecessary bureaucracy, health industry officials have told EURACTIV.com.
Member states swipe left: Tinder has (court) date in EU countries
Consumer organisations in three EU countries lodged complaints against US-based dating app Tinder today (3 March) for its restrictive user contracts.
Commission changes TTIP position on cosmetics
The European Commission has made changes to the latest version of its position on cosmetics in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations with the United States.
Consumers in the dark over alcoholic drinks content
SPECIAL REPORT / Consumer knowledge about the nutritional value and ingredients contained in alcoholic beverages is limited, according to a new survey published last week.
Consumer choice narrowing online
SPECIAL REPORT / Long seen in Europe as a space for free choices, the Internet may turn into a more controlled environment where consumer decisions are increasingly conditioned in opaque ways, from the very moment they access the web, to the way they surf it.
Consumers join battle against Google in search case
The EU’s main consumer organisation joined the antitrust case against Google on Monday (March 31), accusing the tech giant of misleading users with biased search results.
One year after ‘horsegate’ nothing has changed, consumer group says
Although the European Commission took several initiatives in the wake of the horsemeat scandal, which broke out one year ago, the EU consumer organisation (BEUC) says a similar food scandal could easily shake Europe again.
Proposed sales law is too confusing for consumers
Attempts to introduce a Common European Sales Law are designed to boost cross-border trade. But Ursula Pachl, the deputy director-general of the European consumer group BEUC, argues that there is no evidence that the new law would achieve this and urges the Parliament – which will consider the proposal this autumn – to reject it.
Brussels ramps up protection from hazardous products
The European Commission has moved to reduce the number of hazardous products entering the EU market with new regulatory proposals.
Consumers want clearer origin labelling of their food: Survey
The origin country of products is a key criteria for EU consumers when buying food, says a new survey by the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC). The organisation recommends an update of EU food labelling legislation.
Greens, consumer groups rap Commission for nanomaterials report
The European Commission came under fire from Greens and consumer groups yesterday (3 October) for a report on nanotechnology, which stopped short of proposing specific EU regulation.
Reding unveils new EU data protection rules
After much internal strife, the European Commission published today (25 January) a broad legislative package aimed at safeguarding personal data across the EU. The proposal, if approved, is expected to strengthen citizens’ rights and could have a far-reaching impact on the way online data are collected and processed.
Consumers’ organisation points to problems with mobile telephony
A new pan-European survey, published by the European Consumers' Organisation BEUC on 20 January, reveals that mobile phone users are plagued by way too many problems.
Commission publishes Green Paper on consumer protection
The European Commission has launched a wide public debate on the ways and means to improve consumer protection in the 15 Member States. In its Green Paper on fair trading practices published on 2 October, the Commission presents two main strategic options for the future development of EU consumer protection rules.