The UK's current consumer laws are found in more than 100
different pieces of legislation, according to UK Business Secretary
John Hutton. "Its complexity makes it hard to understand and costs
business an estimated £1.25 billion every year," he said.
"For example, we currently have specific rules for filling up
coal bunkers and selling bird seed, imitation baby dummies and
clothes with hood cords," said Hutton. "It is clear that we must
act to streamline these myriad rules to help consumers know and
exercise their rights, cut red tape and target enforcement to weed
out rogue traders."
Hutton was addressing a conference hosted by the Department for
Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and the National
Consumer Council.
He called for business and consumer groups to come forward with
evidence that could inform what was the Government describes as a
"root and branch review of consumer law".
The consultation paper proposes simplifying the law by replacing
today's 100-plus consumer laws with more flexible, general rules to
help reduce the burden on business. A small number of core consumer
rights should be brought together in a single Act of Parliament, it
says.
To help support the review, BERR has also commissioned a survey
look at the perceptions of consumers across different markets,
focusing on confidence, transparency, complaints and vulnerable
consumers.
"This survey, the first of its kind in the UK, will shine a
light on unfair or anti-competitive behaviour and root out problem
sectors or industries," said Hutton.
The deadline for responses to the consultation is 31st July
2008.
