The House of Lords EU Justice Sub-Committee today calls on the government to explain exactly how it intends to ensure that UK citizens’ consumer rights will be protected and enforced after the UK leaves the European Union.

The committee argues that mirroring the rights we currently have in EU law is not enough. The laws mean nothing without the international mechanisms and agencies that support them, raising important questions about future protections, for example:

The report highlights the committee’s concerns about the government’s approach to consumer protection after Brexit, and focuses on:

Chairman of the Committee Baroness Kennedy of the Shaws (pictured) said: “Margot James MP, Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility gave us no reassurance that consumer rights will be protected once we leave the European Union.

“The UK has spent 40 years shaping the body of law, including 90 European Directives, to protect consumers across the EU. These consumer rights ensure high standards, and the EU mechanisms currently in place allow us to seek compensation, and lead to improved services.

“In a world where the products we buy are internationally manufactured, the holidays we go on can take us all over the world and consumer protection is proven to be more effective through cooperation, the government must do everything it can to make sure the UK and the EU continue to work together.”