E.C. reviews consumer protection laws

BRUSSELS—The European Commission has launched a review of its consumer protection rules that encompasses all consumer contract law apart from certain rules in sector-specific legislation.

The Commission said that it felt it was time to review the rules mainly because of the rise of the internet and electronic trade.

It believes that a lack of consumer confidence and complex and unclear rules are holding consumer and business back from "seizing the potential" of the Web, particularly with cross-border trades from state to state.

The Green Paper asks whether each of the major consumer directives should be tackled one by one or whether a cross-sector approach should be taken. It also asks to what extent the legislation should be harmonised throughout the E.U.