Sequencing and analysis of the human genome, all the genetic information stored in our DNA, enable understanding about a person’s ancestry, health and various traits. DNA sequencing greatly benefits medicine and the life sciences by allowing them to predict and cure diseases. While DNA sequencing technologies continuously improve and become less costly, what if we all soon possessed our personal, smart DNA sequencers and apps to analyse DNA?

EPRS podcast - STOA: What if consumers could use devices to sequence DNA?

Household consumption in the EU has major environmental impacts, which in a number of cases exceed planetary boundaries. Two thirds of consumers in the EU realise that their consumption habits have negative effects on the environment, and the solution that they mention most often is to change consumption habits and production patterns. However, a number of studies have shown a gap between consumers' good intentions and their actual behaviour.

EPRS policy podcast - Sustainable consumption: Helping consumers make eco-friendly choices

To help consumers to make healthier food choices, the European Commission wants producers of foods and drinks to display clear nutritional information on the front-of-pack. But this may not be so simple… Some Member States have already introduced their own labelling schemes to mark “healthy” products but will the EU win the battle at European scale?

EPRS policy podcast - Nutrition labelling schemes used in Member States

We shop ‘til we drop, and chuck out just as fast… But this fast fashion, throwaway consumer culture is destroying our planet and creating huge social problems. So, if the EU is serious about achieving its green objectives, it will need to find a way to turn fast fashion into clean, ethical fashion…

EPRS STOA podcast - What if fashion were good for the planet?

The EU has some of the strongest rules on consumer protection in the world! But sometimes, it can be difficult to enforce them… So, what can you do, as European consumer, if you’re not getting value for money? Get to know your rights!

EPRS policy podcast - Enforcement of consumer protection

While commonly consumed in many parts of the world, insects have long been off the menu in Europe…but they could soon be creeping their way onto our plates! With Europe’s focus shifting towards a more sustainable agri-food sector, entomophagy, the practice of eating insects, is now gaining serious interest… But are Europeans ready for an insect-based diet?

EPRS STOA podcast - What if insects were on the menu in Europe?

The proposed directive on liability of defective products aims to bring the European Union's product liability rules up to speed with the digital age, circular economy business models and global value chains. Consumers would be better protected against defective products and the damages they might cause. Compensation for defective products would also extend to those manufactured outside the EU.

EPRS Policy Podcast - New product liability directive

Did you know that 85% of all rough diamonds are traded through the port of Antwerp in Belgium? Needless to say that European consumers play a prominent role in driving the world’s diamond trade. Yet many diamonds come from conflict zones, where the proceeds may be used to fund violence or finance deadly conflicts. Here are three things the EU does for people worried about these so-called ‘conflict minerals’.

This is what Europe does for consumers worried about conflict minerals

It’s difficult enough to avoid aggressive and misleading sales practices if you’re a canny bargain hunter, never mind if you’re a vulnerable shopper. Here’s what the EU does to protect mentally and physically impaired shoppers.

This is what Europe does for vulnerable consumers

The EU is working to make sure that household electrical appliances are safe and energy efficient and that you have more choice as a consumer. Here’s how:

This is what Europe does for consumers purchasing electrical appliances

As smartphones have become vital accessories for many of us, the EU has introduced rules to make sure they are reliable, safe and available when needed. Here is how:

This is what Europe does for consumers purchasing smartphones

If you are a foodie and love European specialities, you may have come across products bearing logos such as ‘protected designation of origin’. Examples include Scottish Wild Salmon and Cornish Sardines. These logos mean that the Union protects the products’ names and their unique qualities.

This is what Europe does for consumers of regional and traditional products

As a European consumer you enjoy many rights and consumer friendly rules. Here are some examples.

This is what Europe does for consumers

In 2015, it was reported that several million European adults had consumed cocaine, amphetamines and cannabis. Here’s how the EU is helping them.

This is what Europe does for people with substance abuse issues

Consumers increasingly want fairly priced, healthy, fresh, organic and local food. This is encouraging farmers to engage in direct selling. Here are three things that Europe does for them.

This is what Europe does for farmers engaged in direct selling

7 out of 10 European consumers think cosmetics and skin care products are important in everyday life. They have a strong influence on our wellbeing and quality of life.

This is what Europe does for cosmetics users

EU citizens are becoming increasingly concerned that all kinds of production systems and other activities should be sustainable.Animal welfare is an important aspect of sustainability,and also of product quality, and may result in consumers refusing to buy products. 

The welfare of an individual is its state as regards its attempts to cope with its environment. Welfare includes feelings and health and can be measured scientifically. It is a biological concept, quite different from rights, and refers only to living animals.

Animal welfare (2019 - 2020)

Following Parliament’s approval during October I plenary, EU consumers will soon be able to use a single charging solution for their electronic devices.

&nbsp;By the end of 2024, all mobile phones, tablets and cameras sold in the EU will have to be equipped with a USB Type-C charging port. From spring 2026, the obligation will extend to laptops. The new law, adopted by plenary on Tuesday with 602 votes in favour, 13 against and 8 abstentions, is part of a broader EU effort to reduce e-waste and to empower consumers to make more sustainable choices.

Under the new rules, consumers will no longer need a different charger every time they purchase a new device, as they will be able to use one single charger for a whole range of small and medium-sized portable electronic devices.

Regardless of their manufacturer, all new mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones and headsets, handheld videogame consoles and portable speakers, e-readers, keyboards, mice, portable navigation systems, earbuds and laptops that are rechargeable via a wired cable, operating with a power delivery of up to 100 Watts, will have to be equipped with a USB Type-C port.

Council will have to formally approve the Directive before it is published in the EU Official Journal. It will enter into force 20 days after publication. Member states will then have 12 months to transpose the rules and 12 months after the transposition period ends to apply them. The new rules would not apply to products placed on the market before the date of application.

Common EU charger

European food safety policy aims are twofold: to protect human health and consumers’ interests, and to foster the smooth operation of the single European market.

The EU ensures that control standards are established and adhered to in the areas of feed and food-product hygiene, animal health, plant health and the prevention of food contamination from external substances. The Union also regulates labelling for food and feed products.

Food safety - 8th parliamentary term

Organic farming is an overall system of farm management and food production that respects natural life cycles. It minimises the human impact on the environment and operates as naturally as possible, in accordance with objectives and principles

The development of organic production is a political objective of the EU. Although its organic market has constantly expanded, the EU's organic land area still represents only 6% of the total agricultural area and the difference between EU demand and production is covered by growing imports.To overcome the regulatory obstacles to the&nbsp; development of the sector and increase consumer confidence in the EU organic logo, in March 2014 the Commission adopted a proposal for a regulation on organic production and labelling of organic products, repealing Regulation No 834/2007.

Organic food

Thanks to the Roaming Regulation roaming charges ended on 15 June 2017. Europeans travelling within the EU only pay domestic prices for calls, SMS and data. The scheme was due to expire on 30 June 2022.
The EU will renew the “Roam Like At Home” scheme for another ten years, under plans adopted by Parliament during March mini-session.
The legislation, a follow-up to the 2017 elimination of roaming surcharges and agreed between Parliament and Council in December means consumers will continue to be able to use their mobile phones when travelling abroad in the EU with no additional fees on top of what they already pay at home. In addition, they will enjoy the same quality and speed of mobile connection abroad as at home. Roaming providers will be obliged to offer the same roaming quality to that provided domestically, if the same conditions are available on the network of the visiting country. In negotiations with Council, MEPs secured a provision in the new rules to prohibit practices that reduce the quality of roaming services (e.g. by switching the connection from 4G to 3G).

Roaming

The EU is currently updating its 1995 trade defence law to counter unfair trade practices and reflect the changing needs of European businesses, workers and consumers. 

The proposed measures target unfair trade practices from non-EU countries and complement the recently approved anti-dumping rules focusing on third countries that interfere heavily in the economy - focusing on China.

EU trade defence

This package contains the events of 2020. For latest events, see related links.

On 29 January 2020, the European Commission's Work Programme 2020 was published. Under the second priority - 'A Europe fit for the digital age'- the Commission announced its intention to put forward a new Digital Services Act in order to reinforce the single market for digital services, and help provide smaller businesses with the legal clarity and level playing field they need.

While the E-Commerce Directive has been the cornerstone of the Internal Market for the last twenty years, Members of the European Parliament's Internal Market and Consumer Protection committee noted that the Digital Single Market is affected by increasing fragmentation in tackling illegal content online, difficulties to promote market entry and consumer welfare, and ineffectiveness of enforcement and cooperation between Member States.

Digital Services Act (2020)

European measures for consumer protection are intended to protect the health and safety and economic and legal interests of European consumers, wherever they live, travel or shop in the EU.

EU provisions regulate both physical transactions and e-commerce, and contain rules of general applicability together with provisions targeting specific products, including medicines, genetically modified organisms, tobacco products, cosmetics, toys and explosives.

Consumer protection (2019-2020)

"Dual quality" of products can be defined as the marketing of goods with significantly different composition or characteristics, such as ingredients, as identical in different Member States.

Parliament has long voiced its concerns about the dual quality of food. The EP stressed that discrimination between consumers is unacceptable in any form. In recent years, the concern that some branded products might be inferior in the Member States that have joined the European Union since 2004 has become ever more apparent. This concern has come to be known as the 'dual quality of products'. To address the issue, between 2018 and 2019, the European Commission's Joint Research Service (JRC) compared a set of branded food products sold under the same name and in the same or similar packaging across Member States. The analysis sought to determine whether, despite the identical or similar packaging, there were differences in product composition and, if so, whether those differences corresponded to any geographical pattern.

See more on this topic by visiting our <a href="https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/dual-quality-of-products-8th-parliamentary-term_7601_pk">package</a> for the 8th parliamentary term.

Dual quality of products

Thierry Breton, born on 15 January 1955 in Paris, is a French businessman and former Finance Minister.

After the hearing by the Committees on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) and Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) of the European Parliament, the committees prepare an evaluation letter on the candidate.

Hearing of Thierry BRETON, Commissioner-designate, Internal Market

Sylvie Goulard, born on 6 December 1964 in Marseille, is a French politician.

After the hearing by the Committees on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) and Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) of the European Parliament, the committees prepare an evaluation letter on the candidate. Parliament is expected to vote on the new Commission as a whole on 23 October.

Hearing of Sylvie GOULARD, Commissioner-designate, Internal Market

Margrethe Vestager, born in 13 April 1968 in Glostrup, is a Danish politician.

After the hearing by the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO), and the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) of the European Parliament, the committees prepare an evaluation letter on the candidate. Parliament is expected to vote on the new Commission as a whole on 23 October.

Hearing of Margrethe VESTAGER, Executive Vice-President-designate, A Europe

The European Parliament 's Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety is responsible for food safety issues, including the labelling and safety of foodstuffs, veterinary legislation safeguarding against risks to human health, and public health checks on foodstuffs and food production systems.

Parliament is also particularly vigilant with regard to threats to consumer health related to cloned animals and nanomaterials or GMOs. It scrutinises and regularly opposes draft proposals for authorisation or renewal of new genetically modified plants such as maize or soya beans. In order to ensure greater transparency throughout the food chain and to better inform European consumers, Parliament, in a resolution adopted in May 2016, reiterated its call on the Commission to present legislative proposals for the mandatory indication of the origin of, in particular, meat used as an ingredient in processed foods. This should restore consumer confidence in the wake of the horsemeat scandal and other food fraud cases. In 2017, Parliament and Council agreed upon new rules to tighten up official food inspections aimed at improving food traceability and combating fraud. During the negotiations, Parliament managed to strengthen enforcement in relation to fraudulent or deceptive practices.

#EUelections2019 - Food safety

As of 3 December 2018, Europeans are able to shop online without unjustified geo-blocking, wherever they are in the EU.

For citizens this means that they are able to buy their new electrical goods online, rent a car or get their concert tickets across borders as they do at home. Consumers no longer face barriers such as being asked to pay with a debit or credit card issued in another country. For businesses, this means more legal certainty to operate cross-border.

#EUelections2019 - Geo-blocking

Roaming fees for calling, sending text messages and using mobile internet abroad in the EU banned since 15 June 2017.

Since 2006, the European Commission has taken action to address the high roaming charges paid by consumers for using their mobile phones when travelling abroad in another EU Member State. In 2015, the European Parliament and the Council adopted a fourth Roaming Regulation, which entered into force on 29 November 2015. In January 2016, the European Parliament voted on its resolution 'Towards a single market act' for a timely wholesale review, to end roaming charges for all European consumers by 15 June 2017. During the third trilogue meeting on 31 January 2017, an agreement was reached between the Parliament and the Council. The Final Act was published in the Official Journal on 9 June 2017. As a result, since 15 June 2017 retail roaming charges have disappeared in the EU and EEA/EFTA countries (as they decided also to abolish them). The wholesale roaming charges were again reduced.

#EUelections2019 - Roaming

By making energy more efficient, Europeans will see their energy bills reduced. In addition, Europe will diminish its reliance on external suppliers of oil and gas, improve local air quality and protect the climate.

By 2030, energy efficiency in the EU must have improved by 32.5%, whereas the share of energy from renewables should make up at least 32% of the EU’s gross final consumption. Both targets are to be reviewed by 2023. These targets can only be raised, not lowered. Lower energy bills and the right to become a renewable self-consumer will be the result.

#EUelections2019 - Clean energy and energy efficiency

IMCO - Exchange of views on the implementation of the Digital Markets Act: compliance, with a focus on self-preferencing and app stores.

IMCO - Exchange of views on the implementation of the Digital Markets Act: compliance, with a focus on self-preferencing and app stores

Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection

IMCO

ERC & the Panel for the Future of Science and Technology - Science-driven solutions for sustainable food - Thematic session 1: Adopting sustainable choices and consumer behaviour

Resumption of the sitting

Opening of the sitting

Statements by the President

Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting

Composition of Parliament

Verification of credentials

Request for the defence of immunity: see Minutes

Request for waiver of immunity

Composition of political groups

Composition of committees and delegations

Negotiations ahead of Parliament’s first reading (Rule 71)

Delegated acts (Rule 111(6))(action taken)

Corrigendum (Rule 241)

Signing of acts adopted in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (Rule 79)

Order of business

European Defence Industry Reinforcement through common Procurement Act (EDIRPA) (debate)

Surface water and groundwater pollutants (debate)

Amendments to Parliament’s Rules of Procedure with a view to strengthening integrity, independence and accountability (debate)

Renewable Energy Directive (debate)

Consumer credits (debate)

Geographical indication protection for craft and industrial products (debate)

One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

Agenda of the next sitting

Approval of the minutes of the sitting

Plenary session

IMCO-INTA joint committee - Vote on Forced Labour Ban

AGRI IMCO PETI public hearing - European Citizen's Initiative ' Fur Free Europe '

IMCO - Trilogue on political advertising

IMCO trilogue on Empowering consumers

IMCO - Public Hearing Toy safety

IMCO -  Vote on data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services

IMCO - Presentation of the Spanish Presidency of the Council programme

EP Plenary session - Consumer credits

European Consumer Food Waste Forum

IMCO Public Hearing Online safety of vulnerable consumers (minors)

LIBE IMCO Trilogue on Artificial Intelligence

ENVI AGRI PETI joint hearing ' Save Cruelty Free Cosmetics '

INTA Committee - EU trade and investment following Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine

IMCO Committee - Vote on harmonised rules on Artificial Intelligence (Artificial Intelligence Act)

EP Plenary session - Empowering consumers for the Green transition

IMCO - Meeting between the Committee Chair Anna CAVAZZINI and the Spanish Presidency Ambassador Raúl Fuentes Milani

IMCO Public Hearing ' Modernising the regulation of online platforms intermediating short-term accommodation rental services '

How does Europe affect our everyday lives? How does it impact on our jobs, our families, our health care, our journeys and our consumer choices? And how is Europe present in our towns, cities and regions? As European citizens, no matter where we live, how we make our living, or how we spend our time, the EU has an impact on our daily lives. The website 'What Europe does for me' presents a wide range of short, easy-to-read texts drawn up by the European Parliamentary Research Service, focusing on what the European Union does and the impact it has on us all. It explores EU actions from the individual’s point of view, with many examples of projects and support.

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