Surf’s Up: New Consumer Directive makes Some Waves

In Europe, online sales are set to reach 191 billion Euro by the year 2017.¹ Faced with these numbers, businesses simply cannot afford to pass up the opportunities presented to them by online channels. Neither can they afford to remain in the dark about developments in the e-commerce regulatory sector. The ever-changing landscape of the world market necessitates a fast reaction time and a keen adaptability for businesses to remain relevant.

The new Directive on Consumer Rights (2011/83/EC) (the "Directive") was adopted by an overwhelming majority of the European Parliament. The deadline for all Member States to transpose the new rules contained in the Directive into their national laws was the 13th December 2013, and Malta was right on cue with its promulgation of the Consumer Rights Regulations by virtue of Legal Notice 439 of 2013, which revoked the Distance Selling Regulations of 2001. The provisions of this new Directive, and the strengthened rights granted to