Changes in consumer protection law
On June 14, 2013, the German Federal Parliament passed the Act on the Implementation of the EU Consumer Rights Directive and on the Amendment of the Law on Housing (Gesetz zur Umsetzung der Verbraucherrechterichtlinie und zur Änderung des Gesetzes zur Regelung der Wohnungsvermittlung). The law shall enter into force on June 13, 2014 after a transitional period of one year. The adoption of the new law became necessary in order to achieve the full harmonization which the EU Consumer Rights Directive was aiming at, in particular for e-commerce. The law modifies inter alia Sections 312 et seq. German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch; "BGB") (provisions concerning contracts negotiated away from business premises, distance contracts and contracts in electronic commerce), Sections 355 et seq. BGB (right of withdrawal) and Articles 246 et seq. Introductory Law to the German Civil Code (Einführungsgesetz zum Bürgerlichen Gesetzbuch; "EGBGB") (consumer information obligations).
