Guidance

Consumer rights and business: changes after Brexit

Advice for businesses on consumer rights if there’s a no-deal Brexit.

Stay up to date

The UK will leave the EU on 31 October. This page tells you how to prepare for Brexit. It will be updated if anything changes, including if a deal is agreed.

Sign up for email alerts to get the latest information.

Most businesses will not need to take any action except to continue to comply as normal with UK consumer law.

However, there will be some changes to rules on:

  • selling to the EU
  • cross border enforcement
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution and Online Dispute Resolution
  • package travel insolvency protections

Selling to the EU

Businesses selling to EU countries should keep up to date on the relevant national laws. This includes UK businesses operating in the UK but selling timeshare based in EU countries.

You will need to check the rules of the countries you are selling into.

Cross border enforcement

There will no longer be reciprocal obligations on the UK or EU countries to investigate breaches of consumer laws or take forward enforcement actions.

You will not need to take any action to prepare for this change.

Alternative Dispute Resolution and Online Dispute Resolution

Businesses and consumers will no longer be able to use the Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform after Brexit. The ODR platform is an EU website that links consumers with Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) providers in the EU.

You should remove links and references to the ODR platform from your website once the UK has left the EU.

Package travel insolvency protections

Businesses should be aware that EU countries are unlikely to recognise UK insolvency protection.

You will need to comply with multiple insolvency regimes across the EU. Check the rules of the countries you are selling into.

Published 14 August 2019
Share this article