Africa: Consumer Protection

The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation becomes applicable on 12 August 2026, replacing existing directives with a directly applicable regime governing packaging design, documentation, labelling and end-of-life management across the EU market. Life sciences companies manufacturing medical devices, IVDs and pharmaceuticals face significant compliance obligations, with narrow sector-specific exemptions that do not eliminate core requirements for conformity documentation, substance restrictions...

The EU's new Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive introduces sweeping restrictions on environmental claims and sustainability labels across all B2C commercial practices, fundamentally reshaping how businesses can market their green credentials. From September 2026, companies face strict prohibitions on generic environmental claims, carbon offsetting-based marketing, and unverified sustainability labels, while enhanced durability requirements impose new obligations on product information a

The European Union's new Consumer Rights Directive amendment introduces a mandatory "withdrawal button" for online merchants, fundamentally changing how consumers exercise their 14-day right of withdrawal from distance contracts. This requirement, effective June 19, 2026, applies to any trader—including US-based companies—actively selling to EU consumers, creating new compliance obligations around button placement, design standards, data collection, and confirmation processes. Understanding whic