Responsible 100 creates and develops detailed benchmarks on each of the issues we explore. The above reveals only summaries of the current statements describing POOR, OKAY, GOOD and EXCELLENT performance standards. No policy nor practice examples are included here. The complete benchmarks are shared with organisations which, through offering answers to the above questions, help to shape and improve the benchmarks on an ongoing basis. Find out more about our benchmarks here.
When selling products and services, certain core areas are generally covered by consumer protection law. In the UK, this includes safety, pricing, weights and measures, descriptions of products and services, the contract between a buyer and seller, competition between businesses, intellectual property and counterfeiting. The United Nations also requires businesses to make sure their consumers are well-informed not only about their products, but also of their rights as consumers. This includes information related to health and nutrition, product hazards, environmental impact, the use of materials [including energy + water], and electronic commerce.
After-Sales Service is any service provided after a customer has purchased a product including support regarding warranty service, training, or repair and upgrades.
Competent Authority refers to a body with a regulatory or supervisory role over the provision of a service, such as a professional body or a central or local government authority.
Consumer Contracts Regulations [2013] applies to contracts made both on and away from business premises, as well as contracts made 'at a distance'; there are also rules for businesses providing digital content. These Regulations affect most businesses that contract with consumers, irrespective of where and how the contract is entered into.
Consumer Education provides resources that advise consumers of price and trade information from businesses.
Green Claims Code [2021] is legislation passed by the CMA to prevent businesses from misleading consumers on eco-friendly claims.
Greenwashing refers to misleading claims about the environmental impact of a product, brand, business or service, without evidence to back it up.
Product refers to something that is made to be sold, usually something that is produced by an industrial process or, less commonly, something that is grown or obtained through farming.
Provider means a body or individual that provides a relevant service within the EEA. Most of the Regulations only apply to providers who are established in at least one EEA state.
Service means a self employed economic activity (normally provided for remuneration).
Terms And Conditions refers to the document governing the contractual relationship between the provider of a service and its user.
United Nations Guiding Principles for Consumer Protection [2016] is “a valuable set of principles for setting out the main characteristics of effective consumer protection legislation, enforcement institutions and redress systems and for assisting interested Member States in formulating and enforcing domestic and regional laws, rules and regulations that are suitable to their own economic and social and environmental circumstances, as well as promoting international enforcement cooperation among Member States and encouraging the sharing of experiences in consumer protection”.
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