On 21 May 2012, new consumer protection legislation was accepted by Parliament

The bill will come into force after its signature by the President and publication. After that, companies will have 60 days to comply with the new rules and modify their internal practices accordingly.

The most important changes it introduces are as follows: 

  • consumer protections will apply to businesses acting outside the scope of their economical or professional activities
  • distributors will be obliged to fulfil product marking obligations if the manufacturer fails to do so.
  • there are changes to the rules on displaying prices on products
  • there are new complaint management rules dealing with complaint recording, deadlines for answers, retention periods and opening hours of customer service offices.
  • there are changes to the procedural rules for consumer protection cases and the sanctioning rights of the Consumer Protection Authority (NFH).

CMS Budapest will monitor the bill's passage into law and, to help businesses comply with the new rules, will produce a detailed summary of key changes and a review of companies' existing consumer protection practices.

On 12 June 2012, we will be holding a free, interactive seminar as part of our "Breakfast & Learn" series, where businesses can learn more about the new rules and join in an expert discussion on their practical implications. The planned date of the event is 12 June 2012. Invitations will be sent out soon, and details will also be available on our website.

Law:  Bill No. T/6467. on the amendment of Act CLV of 1997 on Consumer Protection

This article was written for Law-Now, CMS Cameron McKenna's free online information service. To register for Law-Now, please go to www.law-now.com/law-now/mondaq

Law-Now information is for general purposes and guidance only. The information and opinions expressed in all Law-Now articles are not necessarily comprehensive and do not purport to give professional or legal advice. All Law-Now information relates to circumstances prevailing at the date of its original publication and may not have been updated to reflect subsequent developments.

The original publication date for this article was 25/05/2012.