The Food Detectives Honest cheese & transparent beer: Fresh tech from The Food Detectives In partnership with the European Union & the Watson Project
Europe News Campaigners seek to ground ‘passenger-hostile’ EU proposal Campaigners have launched a citizens’ initiative to stop an EU draft law they say would weaken air passenger rights by raising delay thresholds and cutting compensation. 08/08/2025
Tech News EU Commission finds Temu in breach of online platform rules The investigation under the Digital Services Act into the Chinese e-commerce platform began in October 2024. 28/07/2025
Tech News Consumer groups lodge complaint about Shein's online nudging with EU Commission Consumer advocates file EU complaint against Shein, revealing new evidence of unfair practices. The Chinese e-commerce giant is accused of pressuring users into unwanted purchases through manipulative design. 05/06/2025
Europe News Exclusive: EU countries to mull charging for cabin baggage Proposals to charge for cabin baggage and revise the standard for obtaining compensation in the event of delays are on the agenda when the 27 EU ambassadors meet in Brussels on Wednesday. 03/06/2025
Europe in Motion Which airlines suffered the most delays and cancellations in 2025? Ryanair and EasyJet had the most delays overall but have better rates than many major carriers. The new data comes as the EU prepares to change air passenger rights after 10 years of negotiations. 28/05/2025
Europe News Shein accused of breaking EU law with manipulative sales tactics The EU has slammed Shein for using fake discounts, manipulative pressure tactics and misleading claims, in breach of consumer laws and called for urgent redress. 26/05/2025
Europe News EU's €2 handling charge for cheap imports to snare Chinese products Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič announced a fee to counterbalance the cost safety checks for products coming from China – and hopefully curbing numbers of packages sent to Europe. 23/05/2025
Travel News Consumer groups file complaint against ‘abusive’ hand luggage charges The consumer groups argue that the fees for hand luggage contravene a ruling from more than a decade ago by the European Court of Justice. 22/05/2025
EU Decoded How does the European Union want to make toys safe for children? Supported by most political forces, the EU institutions advanced a proposal to ban toxic chemicals from toys sold in European markets. Those chemicals could pose considerable health risks for kids. 29/04/2025
Healthcare What 'dangerous chemicals' found in EU products mean for your health A banned fragrance, lead, and restricted "forever chemicals" were found in products in the EU last year, a new report has found. 18/04/2025
Tech News EU Digital Fairness Act is for business as much as consumers, says justice commissioner The European Commission’s upcoming Digital Fairness Act will not only strengthen protections for consumers online, but also ease legal and administrative burdens for businesses, according to Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath. 11/04/2025
Europe News Will European air passengers receive less compensation in future? The proposed update to European rules for obtaining compensation in the event of air travel delays could deprive 85% of passengers of compensation, according to consumer associations. 31/03/2025
Tech News Commission targets in-game currency in children's video games The Commission is probing alleged unfair practices in the horse-riding game Star Stable Online, targeting in-game purchases aimed at children. The upcoming Digital Fairness Act may include stricter rules on virtual currency transparency and fairness. 21/03/2025
Travel News Why airlines want to pay you less for flight disruptions Proposals to water down passenger flight delay compensation rules are being discussed in Brussels, risking Europe’s claim to having the most passenger-friendly skies in the world. 11/03/2025
Europe News European Commission opens Shein probe and targets Chinese e-commerce giants The Commission calls for stricter enforcement of consumer protection and environmental standards in online commerce in a new communication focusing on Chinese marketplaces; separately announcing an investigation into clothes giant Shein. 05/02/2025
Tech News Meta's new pay-or-consent policy still breaches EU law, consumer advocates claim The social media giant may have softened its rules allowing subscribers to Facebook and Instagram to get no ads, but users still aren’t getting a fair choice, BEUC argues. 23/01/2025
Tech News Geo-blocking restricting EU consumers’ access to online goods, report finds The European Court of Auditors (ECA) reports progress in curbing unjustified geo-blocking but calls for harmonised enforcement of regulations and a potential extension to other sectors. 21/01/2025
Tech News 'Wild West' refurbished good market needs taming, argues consumer group Euroconsumers highlights the lack of common EU standards concerning the quality of refurbished products and the framework governing their resale. 16/01/2025
Europe News IBAN discrimination still harms consumers, says EU auditors From February 2021 to September 2023, consumers reported almost 3,500 cases of alleged IBAN discrimination on the 'Accept My IBAN platform', mostly in France and Spain, accounting for 31% and 21% of all cases respectively. 09/01/2025
Nutrition European consumers baffled by food labelling spaghetti Lack of EU actions has led to an overwhelming array of labels and claims, leaving consumers struggling to make informed choices, according to EU auditors. 25/11/2024