World news about “Consumer Protection” published by euronews.
Mobile phone roaming fees set to go Roaming fees for mobile phones, including text messaging and data transmission, are set to be abolished from July 1st 2014. At the moment, these charges… 14/06/2013
Americans split over claims of online privacy violations Allegations that America’s National Security Agency (NSA) has been gaining access to customer activity on the internet are being denied by the companies… 07/06/2013
Is austerity a threat to EU health policy? Isabelle Kumar, euronews: “From bees to horse-meat to ageing populations – an eclectic mix of issues, yet all in one man’s portfolio. And to top it all, a… 09/05/2013
Consumer groups hail EU plan to create ‘right’ to have a bank account Consumer rights groups have welcomed an EU proposal to that would give Europeans the legal entitlement to have a bank account. Johannes Klein from the… 08/05/2013
Dutch recall 50,000 tonnes of beef on horsemeat suspicions 50,000 tonnes of beef have been recalled by the Dutch food safety authority. It has been deemed unfit for human consumption and it may contain… 10/04/2013
Apple sorry for big trouble in not so little China With an eye to the future, Apple has apologised to its Chinese customers and changed the warranty and repair policy for its iPhones and laptops. That… 02/04/2013
Phishing – don’t take the bait Our latest Hi Tech programme is all about phishing. Phishing is an attempt to gain sensitive information – passwords or bank details – by masquerading as a… 26/03/2013
Eco-labels: a smart strategy In this edition of Business Planet, we visit the French city of Poitiers to take a closer look at the European Ecolabel. For consumers, the label is a… 22/03/2013
Don’t rip me off! In this edition of Right On, we travel to Italy to find out more about so-called “unfair commercial practices” and how to avoid them. Sometimes, the scams… 18/03/2013
Europe Weekly: EU tackles horsemeat scandal This week in Europe Weekly, the EU lays out its plan to tackle the fallout from the horsemeat scandal. The European Commission urges steel giant… 16/02/2013
EU backs DNA tests in wake of horsemeat crisis The European Union has backed DNA testing in the wake of the horsemeat scandal. All 27 member states will carry out the tests on meat labelled as beef to… 15/02/2013
Belgian shoppers fret over horsemeat scandal The horsemeat scandal is yet to hit Belgian supermarkets, but nevertheless consumers there are worried by developments in France and Britain. Shoppers in… 13/02/2013
Careful what you click on! One year after a plan to reform European data protection laws was unveiled, it is still the focus of intense debate. It seems reaching an agreement will not… 07/01/2013
Privacy versus new information technologyThe information technology sector is rapidly changing, with smartphones becoming even smarter and location tracking becoming the norm. Officials are… 07/01/2013
Is it too late to police the web? As Europe grapples with a controversial plan to reform its data protection laws, there is growing debate about privacy on the web and whether or not it is too… 07/01/2013
Bad toys banned from Santa’s list Over three billion toys are manufactured and sold each year, most of them around Christmas time. How are product safety checks carried out, especially when… 21/12/2012
Give me what you owe me! It is one of those exasperating things in life we could all do without: chasing after someone who owes us money, or some service or product that failed to… 12/11/2012
Is the EU small claims system working?Two of the authors of a recent report into the European Small Claims Procedure gave their views to Euronews reporter Seamus Kearney. Italian Federico Vicari… 12/11/2012
When things go wrong abroad What protection can tourists or expatriates outside the European Union expect if things go wrong? Bruno Van de Bossche is a Belgian citizen and professional… 25/06/2012
Bonus ITV: The European Consumer Centre Ireland Lynnsey Delaney at the European Consumer Centre Ireland discusses the issue of consumer rights for holidaymakers with euronews reporter Seamus Kearney. 28/05/2012
When holidays become horror days Millions of Europeans are making plans for their dream holidays, forking out large amounts of money in search of the perfect break. But what happens when… 28/05/2012
Europe Weekly: the return of Europe’s Achilles heel In this week’s Europe Weekly we look into the number of potential deadly products entering the EU. We report on new roaming rates for mobile phones and we… 11/05/2012
EU reports drop in deadly goods entering the bloc Brussels says better detection has led to a substantial drop in the amount of deadly products coming into Europe from outside the bloc. More than half of… 09/05/2012
Protecting your internet purchases Thanks to ISEG and ISPI. In this edition of U talk Vittoria Pischedda from Lyon, France asks: “I bought a computer online from a German website but it… 27/04/2012
Our fundamental rights exposed Is it a virtual strip search that reveals too much or a vital new tool in aviation security? Full body security scanners at European airports have been the… 02/04/2012
Bonus ITV: Florian Geyer, Directorate General Justice, European Commission Florian Geyer from the Directorate General Justice at the European Commission discusses the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union with euronews… 02/04/2012
Reporter’s afterthoughtAs well as body scanners, Americans hit with “enhanced” pat downs Full-body scanners have also been causing a storm in the USA, where hundreds of the… 02/04/2012
EU regulator probes transatlantic air pact EU competition regulators are investigating whether pricing and capacity pacts between Air France-KLM, Alitalia and Delta on transatlantic routes are bad for… 27/01/2012
Toy safety on The Network Party killjoy? Or justified safety cop? The European Union draws ridicule and criticism for a recent toy-warning that kids under eight should not blow up… 08/12/2011
Food labelling: country of origin Melinda, from Hunedoara in Romania, asks: I’d like to know if there’s a European project aimed at clarity in tracing processed food that’s sold on the… 23/09/2011
Empowering e-consumers This week in U Talk, Luc from Brussels posts the question on our website: “What are my rights when I buy something on the Internet?” Following two and a… 02/09/2011
What’s on my plate? EU food labelling rules New food labelling rules intend to make it easier for European shoppers to know what exactly what they are eating. Damien from France asks what these new … 12/08/2011
Mobile roaming charges set to fall Good news for holidaymakers, mobile phone prices abroad are set to become cheaper under EU law. The changes will force phone companies to cap the amount they… 07/07/2011
EU to toughen food labelling rules Knowing what is in your food when you buy it will soon hopefully become much easier. New labelling rules backed by members of the European Parliament on… 07/07/2011
Europe weekly round up This week’s Europe weekly was dominated by Greece and fears that the debt-riddled country is on the verge of default. We visit Athens to see how the Greek… 27/06/2011
EU boosts online consumer rights It’s a familiar story for many people. They make a purchase online, only to find out later that they have ended up with something they didn’t really want… 23/06/2011
Competition, Cartels and the euro Crisis Alex Taylor hosts I talk, the new programme on Euronews where the public question Europe’s decisions makers. This week’s guest is Joaquin Almunia, the… 05/05/2011
Internet shoppers and their rights Nikita from Belgium: “When I see something I would like to buy on the Internet, I always think twice, especially if the seller is based in another member… 22/04/2011
Blocking fake medicines Viagra, anti-malarial tablets, painkillers are all increasingly being purchased via the Internet. However there is a risk that what you buy may not be what it… 28/02/2011
EU practical, legal steps against fake drugs The fight against counterfeit medicines has a new European directive on its side, approved by the European Parliament and expected to win the green light soon… 16/02/2011
What is alternative dispute resolution? If you are a consumer who has a grievance against a trader because of something they have done, it can be difficult to pursue the matter and get compensation… 31/01/2011
Food safety Whether it is cheese past its sell-by date, reconditioned contaminated poultry meat or, most recently, dioxin-tainted eggs, the EU is no stranger to food… 24/01/2011
Sea to plate: a cool route Dalvik, in the north of Iceland, is a fishing port which supplies fish to destinations all over Europe including France. We follow a batch of cod which… 03/06/2010
KFC revamps its reputation in ChinaWooing the Chinese. KFC has launched a campaign to rebuild its brand in China following a scandal over banned drugs being used to fatten chickens in its… 25/02/2013
Horsemeat forces meatballs off the menu at IKEAThe Swedish furniture giant is the latest company to fall foul of the horsemeat scandal. Meatballs have been pulled from their shelves after Czech inspectors… 25/02/2013
Still more horse meat found in European ‘beef’ productsAs the EU launches plans for immediate DNA tests of beef products for the presence of unlabelled horse meat, more European countries have reported… 16/02/2013
EU launches testing programme in escalating horse meat scandalWhere will the focus fall next? The horse meat scandal, as it has been called, resonates across Europe. Northern Ireland is in the spotlight with… 16/02/2013
Stakes raised in the horsemeat scandalThe horsemeat scandal blame-game has heated up. The discovery of horsemeat disguised as beef in ready-to-eat frozen meals sold across Europe has… 11/02/2013
Findus beef lasagne is horsemeatFrozen ready meal producer, Findus says horsemeat has been discovered in its beef lasagne. The British Food Standards Agency says Findus has carried out tests… 08/02/2013
The best of #burgergateThe discovery of horse meat in beef burgers on sale in British and Irish supermarkets has shocked many people and raised questions about how little some… 16/01/2013
Horse meat found in burgers in UK and IrelandBritish supermarket chain Tesco has withdrawn a number of brands of frozen beefburgers from sale in the UK and Ireland after they were found to contain horse… 16/01/2013
Is the EU small claims system working?Two of the authors of a recent report into the European Small Claims Procedure gave their views to Euronews reporter Seamus Kearney. Italian Federico Vicari… 12/11/2012
Germany: Social media to be used for credit checksGermany’s largest credit agency is coming under fire, after revealing that it plans to gather information from social media websites. The data would be used… 08/06/2012
Deep concerns over Google’s use of user infoThe new privacy policy introduced by the internet giant Google has raised ‘deep concerns’ among European data protection agencies about its legality. Google… 01/03/2012
YouPorn screw-up leaves users without protectionThe identities of users of a popular adult website have been exposed after the site’s “sloppy practices”. The incident left email addresses, passwords and… 23/02/2012
EU gets tough on internet data protectionThe EU has unveiled tough new rules on protecting internet users personal data that have far-reaching implications for web giants such as Google and Facebook… 25/01/2012
Contaminated chickens in Germany raise health debateA survey in Germany has shown half the number of fresh chickens bought in shops in five cities were contaminated by germs resistant to antibiotics and could… 09/01/2012
Obama creates new bank watchdog for consumersThe White House has said Barack Obama is exploring a possible fallback plan to avert a debt default on August 2. He again called on Congress to raise the debt… 18/07/2011
EU bans Egyptian seeds due to deadly E. coliSome beans and seeds from Egypt have been banned from being imported into the EU as they are suspected of causing the deadly E. coli outbreak across Europe… 06/07/2011
EU must improve food alerts: farmers unionNial O’Reilly euronews: “As we have seen, the E.coli crisis has had a big impact on European agriculture. To discuss the issues concerned, we are joined by… 07/06/2011
iPhone user tracker raises privacy concernsSecurity analysts have raised privacy concerns over the ability of Apple’s iPhone to keep track of the owner’s movements. The secret file contains the… 21/04/2011
European cloned meat talks stallConventional European meat eaters can continue their customary habits for a while longer; European Union talks over how to deal with food from cloned animals… 29/03/2011
Chinese price problems for Carrefour, othersFrench supermarket chain Carrefour has been fined for overcharging customers at some of its stores in China. Other retailers – Germany’s Metro and Wal-Mart of… 31/01/2011
EU fines screen cartelThe EU’s competition commissioner has fined five South Korean and Taiwanese electronics firms 649 million euros for price fixing. The companies held monthly… 09/12/2010
No more suspect plastic BPA in EU baby bottlesNo more bisphenol A in plastic baby bottles in the EU next year: the European Union is banning it. Its Health and Consumer authority cited uncertainty from… 26/11/2010
Public transparency for medicines closer to EU law‘Yes’ to information on medicines in the EU, ‘no’ to disguised advertising. The European Parliament has moved along proposed laws on prescription drugs saying… 26/11/2010
Protecting personal dataWhen you open a bank account, book an airline ticket, ask for a loyalty card, or just share pictures online that involves giving out your personal data. So… 15/11/2010
European consumer centres to help youHave you ever had a trouble sorting out a problem with a product or service that was bought in another European country? Then the European Consumer Centre… 19/10/2010
Italy orders Google to stop collecting Wifi dataItaly has ordered US internet giant Google to stop downloading Wifi information through its Street View cars. Currently, the camera equipped vehicles pick… 21/09/2010
Consumer group action in court moves down EU agendaUS-style group action lawsuits across the EU are no longer order of the day for the European Commission. Introducing into EU legislation new mechanisms to… 20/09/2010
Travel rights for everyoneWhether it is down to disability, limited mobility or old age, nearly one European in five may need help when making a trip. So how is life made easier for… 17/08/2010
EU backs more organic food productionDespite an increase in the amount of land farming organic produce within the European Union – about 4.3 per cent of total land cultivated – the organic sector… 19/07/2010
New EU boat passenger rights launchedBoat passengers in European waters will have more rights as of 2012, under new regulations approved by the European Parliament. When, for reasons within the… 06/07/2010
Air and train passenger rightsWith the summer tourism season underway, Brussels has started a campaign using posters in multiple languages, pamphlets and a new Internet site to make sure… 06/07/2010
Know what you are eatingThe European Parliament wants to standardise the labels on packaged food sold in Europe, as well as make them easier to understand. What can shoppers expect… 28/06/2010
McDonald’s tempting toys targetedMcDonald’s marketing to children is under attack from a US consumer group. The world’s biggest burger chain has been warned it faces a law suit unless it… 23/06/2010
Brouhaha brewing in world of teaAustralian research scientists are developing a way of tracing the tea in your teapot back to its roots, to find out almost exactly where it came from. 16/06/2010
All that is green may not be as it seems warns EUAccording to a poll by Eurobarometer, 83% of Europeans feel that the environmental impact of a product is an important element when buying something. But how… 17/05/2010
Italy imposes heavy fine on RyanairA three million euro fine has been slapped on the low-budget Irish airline Ryanair by Italian authorities. The Italian Civil Aviation Authority claims the… 15/05/2010
RAPEX reports EU dangerous imports upThe number of dangerous consumer products registered with the EU’s rapid alert system (RAPEX) rose by seven percent in 2009. Examples of the some 2,000 items… 15/04/2010
Chemicals transparencyThe European chemicals registry known as REACH aims to reduce health and environmental risks, and to stimulate innovation. Introduced in 2007, what stage is… 05/04/2010
Lack of colour in new EU food labelling disappoints consumer groupsNew European Union rules on food labelling will not introduce an EU-wide colour coding system. Research shows that many people find the nutritional… 16/03/2010
Train delays promise passengers cash backRail passengers in Europe can now claim compensation if their train is late and if their luggage is lost. Under new rules, a delay of one to two hours means a… 03/12/2009
European retail banking under scrutinyThe financial service sector is in the sights of the European Commission. Hinden charges and opaque banking practices are just some of the problems faced by… 29/09/2009
Daily lost luggage toll in tens of thousandsHoliday time may now be upon us, but shocking new figures released by the European Commission have revealed the luggage hell sufffered by thousands of air… 28/07/2009
More transparency for airline ticketsBuying plane tickets on line can yield the best bargains, but you have to be careful. That is the conclusion from an 18 month long crack-down by Brussels on… 25/05/2009
Prizing e-customers’ privacyIn a bid to help empower shoppers in the virtual marketplace, the European Union’s first Consumer Summit has brought together participants from industry… 01/04/2009
Cosmetic safety keeping up with more than meets the eye: nanotechnologyCosmetics containing nanoparticles — materials on a super-tiny scale — could be banned if there is a risk to human health, under legislation updated in the… 24/03/2009
Playing Safe – Towards better controls on toys“Must do better”, is the message to China from the European Commissioner for Consumer Protection, who says Chinese exports – including toys – do not always… 25/11/2008
