BEUC - The European Consumer Organisation

BEUC NEWS – 29 June 2026 Last week, the Paris Judicial Court ruled against Danone water brand Volvic for using misleading claims, such as “carbon neutral”, “100% recyclable” and “100% recycled”, on its water bottles. This decision is the result of the legal action brought by CLCV in France.

BEUC NEWS - 29 June 2026 Today, the Council formally adopted the AI Omnibus, completing the legislative process after the European Parliament's plenary vote on 16 June. Even before the AI Act is fully applicable, this deal makes several changes to these rules with serious implications for consumers.

From 1 July 2026, all imported goods into the EU will face three-euro customs duties, ending the long-standing exemption for parcels worth under €150. BEUC, the European Consumer Organisation, welcomes the move to improve product safety but warns that consumers must not be hit with unexpected charges when their purchases are delivered. Until now, low-value imports were benefiting from the so-called “de minimis” rule, introduced before the boom in online shopping.

Consumer welfare in the European Union depends on the existence of competitive markets. Yet, market concentration in consumer-facing sectors (such as air transport, telecoms, food or energy) has increased in recent years, and there is significant evidence showing that this has resulted in negative outcomes for consumers, including higher prices, less choice, and reduced quality of products and services.

From basic care to life-saving treatments, around two million different types of medical devices shape patient and consumers’ daily lives worldwide. The revision of the EU legislative framework in 2017 was a necessary step to enhance patient safety after past scandals across Europe like faulty breast implants illustrated that weak rules put consumers at real risk.

BEUC NEWS - 25 June 2026 Yesterday, the European Commission published its Omnibus proposal on energy efficient products, to simplify the requirements of the EU energy label and further incorporating digital technologies. The energy label continues to be one of the EU's most successful consumer tools. It helps consumers save energy while also cutting energy bills, and has played a major role in helping Europe deliver significant energy savings and emissions reductions.

The EU adopted its Digital Markets Act (DMA) to give European consumers more choice and better access to innovative products and internet services. Since the DMA entered into force in May 2023 Europe’s consumers have indeed felt benefits in terms of more choice of services, apps and hardware, thanks to the DMA. For example, the DMA requires Big Tech companies to ensure that mobile devices are interoperable with hardware (such as earphones) from third parties.

The European Parliament voted today to give consumers more protection when using the future digital euro or cash. According to the Parliament, consumers would get basic digital euro services from their bank (or a public entity) for free, including a payment card, which is the preferred payment method for adults as our survey has shown. The Parliament also voted for stronger privacy safeguards, plus better protection when a digital euro payment goes wrong.

EU laws are too often not strong enough on consumer protection and often unclear, which makes them difficult to apply. Making EU rules simpler to benefit citizens is an important EU objective which BEUC supports. Yet, simplification cannot be seen in isolation. It must be combined with a high level of consumer protection, so consumers trust the Single Market and the European project.