Worldwide: Consumer Protection

Cyprus businesses face strict consumer protection obligations covering pricing transparency, withdrawal rights, unfair contract terms, and digital services. Non-compliance may trigger regulatory investigations, administrative fines, and reputational damage across e-commerce, marketing, and customer service operations.

Northern Ireland's Food Standards Agency and Department of Health are consulting on new restrictions for promoting products high in fat, sugar and salt, aiming to align with UK-wide measures while grappling with which nutrient profiling model to adopt. The proposed regulations would limit volume price promotions, product placement in prominent retail locations, and free refill promotions for sugar-sweetened drinks, with enforcement handled by local councils.

Italy has implemented the EU's Empowering Consumers Directive, introducing strict new rules against greenwashing and misleading sustainability claims that will reshape how consumer products companies communicate environmental performance. The legislation expands prohibited commercial practices and establishes rigorous substantiation requirements for environmental claims, with significant penalties for non-compliance including fines up to EUR 10 million or 4% of annual turnover.