Consumer Rights Act 2015

PART 1 U.K. Basic concepts

Overview U.K.

1 (1) This Schedule confers investigatory powers on enforcers and specifies the purposes for which and the circumstances in which those powers may be exercised. U.K.

(2) Part 1 of this Schedule contains interpretation provisions; in particular paragraphs 2 to 6 explain what is meant by an “enforcer”.

(3) Part 2 of this Schedule explains what is meant by “the enforcer's legislation”.

(4) Part 3 of this Schedule contains powers in relation to the production of information; paragraph 13 sets out which enforcers may exercise those powers, and the purposes for which they may do so.

(5) Part 4 of this Schedule contains further powers; paragraphs 19 and 20 set out which enforcers may exercise those powers, and the purposes for which they may do so.

(6) Part 5 of this Schedule contains provisions that are supplementary to the powers in Parts 3 and 4 of this Schedule.

(7) Part 6 of this Schedule makes provision about the exercise of functions by certain enforcers outside their area or district and the bringing of proceedings in relation to conduct outside an enforcer's area or district.

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. 5 para. 1 in force at 27.5.2015 for specified purposes for E. by S.I. 2015/965, art. 2(b)

I2 Sch. 5 para. 1 in force at 27.5.2015 for specified purposes by S.I. 2015/1333, art. 2(a)

I3 Sch. 5 para. 1 in force at 1.10.2015 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(h) (with art. 8)

Enforcers U.K.

2 (1) In this Schedule “enforcer” means— U.K.

(a) a domestic enforcer,

(b) [F1 a Schedule 13 enforcer],

(c) a public designated enforcer, or

(d) an unfair contract terms enforcer.

(2) But in Part 4 and paragraphs 38 and 41 of this Schedule “enforcer” means—

(a) a domestic enforcer, or

(b) [F1 a Schedule 13 enforcer].

(3) In paragraphs 13, 19 and 20 of this Schedule, a reference to an enforcer exercising a power includes a reference to an officer of the enforcer exercising that power.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Sch. 5 para. 2 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Consumer Protection (Enforcement) (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/203), regs. 1, 4(2) (with reg. 9) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1347, regs. 1(3), 3(8)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Commencement Information

I4 Sch. 5 para. 2 in force at 27.5.2015 for specified purposes by S.I. 2015/1333, art. 2(a)

I5 Sch. 5 para. 2 in force at 27.5.2015 for specified purposes for E. by S.I. 2015/965, art. 2(b)

I6 Sch. 5 para. 2 in force at 1.10.2015 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(h) (with art. 8)

Domestic enforcers U.K.

3 (1) In this Schedule “domestic enforcer” means— U.K.

(a) the Competition and Markets Authority,

(b) a local weights and measures authority in Great Britain,

(c) a district council in England,

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

(e) a district council in Northern Ireland,

(f) the Secretary of State,

(g) the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority,

[F2 (ga) the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland,

(gb) the Utility Regulator in Northern Ireland,]

[F3 (gc) the Civil Aviation Authority, for the purposes of the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/634),]

(h) the British Hallmarking Council,

(i) an assay office within the meaning of the Hallmarking Act 1973, or

(j) any other person to whom the duty in subsection (1) of section 27 of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 (duty to enforce safety provisions) applies by virtue of regulations under subsection (2) of that section.

(2) But the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority is not a domestic enforcer for the purposes of Part 4 of this Schedule.

(3) The reference to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in Northern Ireland includes a person with whom the Department has made arrangements, under [regulation 61(1) and (2) of the Lifts Regulations 2016 (SI 2016/1093)] for enforcement of those regulations.

Textual Amendments

F2 Sch. 5 para. 3(1)(ga)(gb) added (28.12.2016) by The Measuring Instruments Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/1153), reg. 1(2), Sch. 3 para. 3(2) (with regs. 3(4), 5, 67(5))

F3 Sch. 5 para. 3(1)(gc) inserted (1.7.2018) by The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/634), regs. 1(2), 38(5)(a) (with regs. 3, 38(15))

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Words in Sch. 5 para. 3(3) substituted (8.12.2016) by The Lifts Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/1093), regs. 1, 83(12)(a) (with regs. 3-5, 83(3)(3A)) (as amended (E.W.S.) (31.12.2020) by The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 22 para. 38 (with Sch. 22 para. 37); which itself is amended by S.I. 2020/676, regs. 1(1), 2; 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1))

Commencement Information

I7 Sch. 5 para. 3 in force at 27.5.2015 for specified purposes for E. by S.I. 2015/965, art. 2(b)

I8 Sch. 5 para. 3 in force at 27.5.2015 for specified purposes by S.I. 2015/1333, art. 2(a)

I9 Sch. 5 para. 3 in force at 1.10.2015 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(h) (with art. 8)

[F4 Schedule 13 enforcers] U.K.

Textual Amendments

F4 Sch. 5 para. 4 cross-heading substituted (31.12.2020) by The Consumer Protection (Enforcement) (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/203), regs. 1, 4(3) (with reg. 9) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1347, regs. 1(3), 3(8)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

[F5 4. U.K.  In this Schedule “Schedule 13 enforcer” means a person or body which is a Schedule 13 enforcer under section 213(5A) of the Enterprise Act 2002.]

Textual Amendments

F5 Sch. 5 para. 4 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Consumer Protection (Enforcement) (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/203), regs. 1, 4(4) (with reg. 9) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1347, regs. 1(3), 3(4)(a)(8)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Commencement Information

I10 Sch. 5 para. 4 in force at 27.5.2015 for specified purposes by S.I. 2015/1333, art. 2(a)

I11 Sch. 5 para. 4 in force at 27.5.2015 for specified purposes for E. by S.I. 2015/965, art. 2(b)

I12 Sch. 5 para. 4 in force at 1.10.2015 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(h) (with art. 8)

Public designated enforcers U.K.

5 U.K. In this Schedule “public designated enforcer” means a person or body which—

(a) is designated by order under subsection (2) of section 213 of the Enterprise Act 2002, and

(b) has been designated by virtue of subsection (3) of that section (which provides that the Secretary of State may designate a public body only if satisfied that it is independent).

Commencement Information

I13 Sch. 5 para. 5 in force at 27.5.2015 for specified purposes by S.I. 2015/1333, art. 2(a)

I14 Sch. 5 para. 5 in force at 27.5.2015 for specified purposes for E. by S.I. 2015/965, art. 2(b)

I15 Sch. 5 para. 5 in force at 1.10.2015 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(h) (with art. 8)

Unfair contract terms enforcer U.K.

6 U.K. In this Schedule “unfair contract terms enforcer” means a person or body which—

(a) is for the time being listed in paragraph 8(1) of Schedule 3 (persons or bodies that may enforce provisions about unfair contract terms), and

(b) is a public authority within the meaning of section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998.

Commencement Information

I16 Sch. 5 para. 6 in force at 27.5.2015 for specified purposes by S.I. 2015/1333, art. 2(a)

I17 Sch. 5 para. 6 in force at 27.5.2015 for specified purposes for E. by S.I. 2015/965, art. 2(b)

I18 Sch. 5 para. 6 in force at 1.10.2015 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(h) (with art. 8)

Officers U.K.

7 (1) In this Schedule “officer”, in relation to an enforcer, means— U.K.

(a) an inspector appointed by the enforcer to exercise powers under this Schedule, or authorised to do so,

(b) an officer of the enforcer appointed by the enforcer to exercise powers under this Schedule, or authorised to do so,

(c) an employee of the enforcer (other than an inspector or officer) appointed by the enforcer to exercise powers under this Schedule, or authorised to do so, or

(d) a person (other than an inspector, officer or employee of the enforcer) authorised by the enforcer to exercise powers under this Schedule.

(2) But references in this Schedule to an officer in relation to a particular power only cover a person within sub-paragraph (1) if and to the extent that the person has been appointed or authorised to exercise that power.

(3) A person who, immediately before the coming into force of this Schedule, was appointed or authorised to exercise a power replaced by a power in this Schedule is to be treated as having been appointed or authorised to exercise the new power.

(4) In this paragraph “employee”, in relation to the Secretary of State, means a person employed in the civil service of the State.

Commencement Information

I19 Sch. 5 para. 7 in force at 27.5.2015 for specified purposes by S.I. 2015/1333, art. 2(a)

I20 Sch. 5 para. 7 in force at 27.5.2015 for specified purposes for E. by S.I. 2015/965, art. 2(b)

I21 Sch. 5 para. 7 in force at 1.10.2015 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(h) (with art. 8)

Interpretation of other terms U.K.

8 U.K. In this Schedule—

• “[F6 Schedule 13 infringement]” has the same meaning as in section 212 of the Enterprise Act 2002;

• “document” includes information recorded in any form;

• “enforcement order” means an order under section 217 of the Enterprise Act 2002;

• “interim enforcement order” means an order under section 218 of that Act;

• [F7 “interim online interface order” means an order under section 218ZC of that Act;

• “online interface order” means an order under section 218ZB of that Act;]

• [F8 “Regulation (EU) 2017/745 on medical devices” means Regulation (EU) 2017/745 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2017 on medical devices, amending Directive 2001/83/EC, Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 and Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 and repealing Council Directives 90/385/EEC and 93/42/EEC.]

• [F9 “Regulation (EU) 2017/746 on in vitro diagnostic medical devices” means Regulation (EU) 2017/746 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2017 on in vitro diagnostic medical devices and repealing Directive 98/79/EC and Commission Decision 2010/227/EU;]

• [F10 “the Regulation on Accreditation and Market Surveillance” means Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 July 2008 setting out the requirements for accreditation and market surveillance relating to the marketing of products and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 339/93.]

• [F10 “the Market Surveillance Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on market surveillance and compliance of products and amending Directive 2004/42/EC and Regulations (EC) No 765/2008 and (EU) No 305/2011.]

Textual Amendments

F6 Words in Sch. 5 para. 8 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Consumer Protection (Enforcement) (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/203), regs. 1, 4(5) (with reg. 9) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1347, regs. 1(3), 3(8)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F7 Words in Sch. 5 para. 8 inserted (2.6.2020) by The Consumer Protection (Enforcement) (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/484), regs. 1(2), 3(3) (with reg. 8)

F8 Words in Sch. 5 para. 8 inserted (27.7.2021) by The Medical Devices (Northern Ireland Protocol) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/905), regs. 1(2), 27(2)

F9 Words in Sch. 5 para. 8 inserted (21.3.2024) by The Medical Devices (In Vitro Diagnostic Devices etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/221), regs. 1(2), 4(a)

F10 Words in Sch. 5 para. 8 substituted (N.I.) (16.7.2021) by The Market Surveillance (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/858), regs. 1(1), 9(2) (with reg. 3)

Commencement Information

I22 Sch. 5 para. 8 in force at 27.5.2015 for specified purposes by S.I. 2015/1333, art. 2(a)

I23 Sch. 5 para. 8 in force at 27.5.2015 for specified purposes for E. by S.I. 2015/965, art. 2(b)

I24 Sch. 5 para. 8 in force at 1.10.2015 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(h) (with art. 8)