ANNEX B: Transposition Notes Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council 1999/44/EC of 25 May 1999 on certain aspects of the sale of consumer goods and associated guarantees
518.This note describes the implementation in the Consumer Rights Act 2015 of Directive 1999/44/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 May 1999 on certain aspects of the sale of consumer goods and associated guarantees.(50) The Directive requires that goods sold to consumers must be in conformity with the contract and consumers have certain remedies if goods are not in conformity with the contract. The Directive also requires that guarantees provided free of charge alongside goods be legally binding.
519.The deadline for implementing the Directive passed on 1 January 2002. The legislation currently implementing the Directive can be found in the Sale and Supply of Goods to Consumers Regulations 2002 (SI 2002/3045) and in the Sale of Goods Act 1979, the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 and the Supply of Goods (Implied Terms) Act 1973 each of which SI 2002/3045 amended. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 repeals and replaces the provisions of those pieces of legislation which currently implement the Directive.
520.UK law has long provided that goods must meet certain requirements, which are implied into contracts for goods, and consumers have remedies if the requirements are not met. The Directive was implemented by amending and supplementing pre-existing law. The Act goes beyond the minimum requirements of the Directive in a number of respects, as it reflects both the Directive and embedded UK law.
521.The table below describes the main substantive provisions of the Act implementing the Directive.