Enterprise Act 2002

Introduction U.K.

210 Consumers U.K.

(1) In this Part references to consumers must be construed in accordance with this section.

(2) In relation to a domestic infringement a consumer is an individual in respect of whom the first and second conditions are satisfied.

(3) The first condition is that—

(a) goods are or are sought to be supplied to the individual (whether by way of sale or otherwise) in the course of a business carried on by the person supplying or seeking to supply them, or

(b) services are or are sought to be supplied to the individual in the course of a business carried on by the person supplying or seeking to supply them.

(4) The second condition is that—

(a) the individual receives or seeks to receive the goods or services otherwise than in the course of a business carried on by him, or

(b) the individual receives or seeks to receive the goods or services with a view to carrying on a business but not in the course of a business carried on by him.

F1 (5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(6) In relation to a Community infringement a consumer is a person who is a consumer for the purposes of—

(a) the Injunctions Directive, and

(b) the listed Directive [F2 or the listed Regulation] concerned.

(7) A Directive is a listed Directive—

(a) if it is a Directive of the Council of the [F3 European Union] or of the European Parliament and of the Council, and

(b) if it is specified in Schedule 13 or to the extent that any of its provisions is so specified.

[F4 (7A) A Regulation is a listed Regulation—

(a) if it is a Regulation of the Council of the [F3 European Union] or of the European Parliament and of the Council, and

(b) if it is specified in Schedule 13 or to the extent that any of its provisions is so specified.]

(8) A business includes—

(a) a professional practice;

(b) any other undertaking carried on for gain or reward;

(c) any undertaking in the course of which goods or services are supplied otherwise than free of charge.

(9) The Secretary of State may by order modify Schedule 13.

(10) An order under this section must be made by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 210(5) omitted (1.10.2015) by virtue of Consumer Rights Act 2015 (c. 15), s. 100(5), Sch. 7 para. 2 (with s. 79(2)); S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(i)

F2 Words in s. 210(6)(b) inserted (8.1.2007) by The Enterprise Act 2002 (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/3363), reg. 4

F3 Words in Act substituted (22.4.2011) by The Treaty of Lisbon (Changes in Terminology) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1043), arts. 2, 3, 4 (with art. 3(2)(3), 4(2), 6(4)(5))

F4 S. 210(7A) inserted (8.1.2007) by The Enterprise Act 2002 (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/3363), reg. 5

211 Domestic infringements U.K.

(1) In this Part a domestic infringement is an act or omission which—

(a) is done or made by a person in the course of a business,

(b) falls within subsection (2), and

(c) harms the collective interests of consumersF5 ....

[F6 (1A) But an act or omission which satisfies the conditions in subsection (1) is a domestic infringement only if at least one of the following is satisfied—

(a) the person supplying (or seeking to supply) goods or services has a place of business in the United Kingdom, or

(b) the goods or services are supplied (or sought to be supplied) to or for a person in the United Kingdom (see section 232).]

(2) An act or omission falls within this subsection if it is of a description specified by the Secretary of State by order and consists of any of the following—

(a) a contravention of an enactment which imposes a duty, prohibition or restriction enforceable by criminal proceedings;

(b) an act done or omission made in breach of contract;

(c) an act done or omission made in breach of a non-contractual duty owed to a person by virtue of an enactment or rule of law and enforceable by civil proceedings;

(d) an act or omission in respect of which an enactment provides for a remedy or sanction enforceable by civil proceedings;

(e) an act done or omission made by a person supplying or seeking to supply goods or services as a result of which an agreement or security relating to the supply is void or unenforceable to any extent;

(f) an act or omission by which a person supplying or seeking to supply goods or services purports or attempts to exercise a right or remedy relating to the supply in circumstances where the exercise of the right or remedy is restricted or excluded under or by virtue of an enactment;

(g) an act or omission by which a person supplying or seeking to supply goods or services purports or attempts to avoid (to any extent) liability relating to the supply in circumstances where such avoidance is restricted or prevented under an enactment.

(3) But an order under this section may provide that any description of act or omission falling within subsection (2) is not a domestic infringement.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (2) it is immaterial—

(a) whether or not any duty, prohibition or restriction exists in relation to consumers as such;

(b) whether or not any remedy or sanction is provided for the benefit of consumers as such;

(c) whether or not any proceedings have been brought in relation to the act or omission;

(d) whether or not any person has been convicted of an offence in respect of the contravention mentioned in subsection (2)(a);

(e) whether or not there is a waiver in respect of the breach of contract mentioned in subsection (2)(b).

(5) References to an enactment include references to subordinate legislation (within the meaning of the Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30)).

(6) The power to make an order under this section must be exercised by statutory instrument.

(7) But no such order may be made unless a draft of it has been laid before Parliament and approved by a resolution of each House.

Textual Amendments

F5 Words in s. 211(1)(c) omitted (1.10.2015) by virtue of Consumer Rights Act 2015 (c. 15), s. 100(5), Sch. 7 para. 3(2) (with s. 79(2)); S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(i)

F6 S. 211(1A) inserted (1.10.2015) by Consumer Rights Act 2015 (c. 15), s. 100(5), Sch. 7 para. 3(3) (with s. 79(2)); S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(i)

212 Community infringements U.K.

(1) In this Part a Community infringement is an act or omission which harms the collective interests of consumers and which—

(a) contravenes a listed Directive as given effect by the laws, regulations or administrative provisions of an EEA State, F7 . . .

(b) contravenes such laws, regulations or administrative provisions which provide additional permitted protections.

[F8 (c) contravenes a listed Regulation, or

(d) contravenes any laws, regulations or administrative provisions of an EEA State which give effect to a listed Regulation.]

(2) The laws, regulations or administrative provisions of an EEA State which give effect to a listed Directive provide additional permitted protections if—

(a) they provide protection for consumers which is in addition to the minimum protection required by the Directive concerned, and

(b) such additional protection is permitted by that Directive.

(3) The Secretary of State may by order specify for the purposes of this section the law in the United Kingdom which—

(a) gives effect to the listed Directives;

(b) provides additional permitted protections [F9 ; or]

[F10 (c) gives effect to a listed Regulation]

(4) References to a listed Directive [F11 or to a listed Regulation] must be construed in accordance with section 210.

[F12 (5) EEA State has the meaning given by Schedule 1 to the Interpretation Act 1978 F13 .]

(6) An order under this section must be made by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Textual Amendments

F7 Word in s. 212(1)(a) repealed (8.1.2007) by The Enterprise Act 2002 (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/3363), reg. 6

F8 S. 212(1)(c)(d) inserted (8.1.2007) by The Enterprise Act 2002 (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/3363), reg. 7

F9 Words in s. 212(3)(b) inserted (8.1.2007) by The Enterprise Act 2002 (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/3363), reg. 8

F10 S. 212(3)(c) inserted (8.1.2007) by The Enterprise Act 2002 (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/3363), reg. 8

F11 Words in s. 212(4) inserted (8.1.2007) by The Enterprise Act 2002 (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/3363), reg. 9

F12 S. 212(5) substituted (16.3.2007) by The Enterprise Act 2002 (EEA State) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/528), reg. 2

F13 1978 c.30.

213 Enforcers U.K.

(1) Each of the following is a general enforcer—

(a) the [F14 CMA];

(b) every local weights and measures authority in Great Britain;

(c) the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in Northern Ireland.

(2) A designated enforcer is any person or body (whether or not incorporated) which the Secretary of State—

(a) thinks has as one of its purposes the protection of the collective interests of consumers, and

(b) designates by order.

(3) The Secretary of State may designate a public body only if he is satisfied that it is independent.

(4) The Secretary of State may designate a person or body which is not a public body only if the person or body (as the case may be) satisfies such criteria as the Secretary of State specifies by order.

(5) A Community enforcer is a qualified entity for the purposes of the Injunctions Directive—

(a) which is for the time being specified in the list published in the Official Journal of the [F3 European Union] in pursuance of Article 4.3 of that Directive, but

[F15 (b) which is not a general enforcer, a designated enforcer or a CPC enforcer.]

[F16 (5A) Each of the following (being bodies or persons designated by the Secretary of State under [F17 Article 5(1)] of the CPC Regulation) is a CPC enforcer—

(a) the [F18 CMA];

(b) the Civil Aviation Authority;

(c) the [F19 Financial Conduct Authority] ;

(d) the Secretary of State for Health [F20 and Social Care];

(e) the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland;

(f) the Office of Communications;

(g) the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in Northern Ireland;

(h) every local weights and measures authority in Great Britain;

[F21 (i) an enforcement authority within the meaning of section 120(15) of the Communications Act 2003 (regulation of premium rate services);]]

[F22 (j) the Information Commissioner][F23 ;]

[F24 (k) the Department for Infrastructure;

(l) the Maritime and Coastguard Agency;

(m) the Office of Rail and Road;

(n) the Office for the Traffic Commissioner.]

(6) An order under this section may designate an enforcer in respect of—

(a) all infringements;

(b) infringements of such descriptions as are specified in the order.

(7) An order under this section may make different provision for different purposes.

(8) The designation of a body by virtue of subsection (3) is conclusive evidence for the purposes of any question arising under this Part that the body is a public body.

(9) An order under this section must be made by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(10) If requested to do so by a designated enforcer which is designated in respect of one or more Community infringements the Secretary of State must notify the Commission of the [F3 European Union] —

(a) of its name and purpose;

(b) of the Community infringements in respect of which it is designated.

(11) The Secretary of State must also notify the Commission—

(a) of the fact that a person or body in respect of which he has given notice under subsection (10) ceases to be a designated enforcer;

(b) of any change in the name or purpose of a designated enforcer in respect of which he has given such notice;

(c) of any change to the Community infringements in respect of which a designated enforcer is designated.

Textual Amendments

F3 Words in Act substituted (22.4.2011) by The Treaty of Lisbon (Changes in Terminology) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1043), arts. 2, 3, 4 (with art. 3(2)(3), 4(2), 6(4)(5))

F14 Word in s. 213(1)(a) substituted (1.4.2014) by The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/892), art. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 6 (with art. 3)

F15 S. 213(5)(b) substituted (8.1.2007) by The Enterprise Act 2002 (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/3363), reg. 10

F16 S. 213(5A) inserted (8.1.2007) by The Enterprise Act 2002 (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/3363), reg. 11

F17 Words in s. 213(5A) substituted (2.6.2020) by The Consumer Protection (Enforcement) (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/484), regs. 1(2), 2(2)(a) (with reg. 8)

F18 Word in s. 213(5A)(a) substituted (1.4.2014) by The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/892), art. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 6 (with art. 3)

F19 Words in s. 213(5A)(c) substituted (1.4.2013) by Financial Services Act 2012 (c. 21), s. 122(3), Sch. 18 para. 95(2) (with Sch. 20); S.I. 2013/423, art. 3, Sch.

F20 Words in s. 213(5A)(d) inserted (11.4.2018) by The Secretaries of State for Health and Social Care and for Housing, Communities and Local Government and Transfer of Functions (Commonhold Land) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/378), art. 1(2), Sch. para. 11 (with art. 14)

F21 S. 213(5A)(i) substituted (1.10.2015) by Consumer Rights Act 2015 (c. 15), s. 100(5), Sch. 7 para. 4 (with s. 79(2)); S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(i)

F22 S. 213(5A)(j) inserted (26.5.2011) by The Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/1208), regs. 1(1), 16(a)

F23 Semi-colon in s. 213(5A)(j) substituted (2.6.2020) by The Consumer Protection (Enforcement) (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/484), regs. 1(2), 2(2)(b) (with reg. 8)

F24 S. 213(5A)(k)-(n) inserted (2.6.2020) by The Consumer Protection (Enforcement) (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/484), regs. 1(2), 2(2)(c) (with reg. 8)