EU Commission clamps down on miracle cures 

The European Commission gave new powers to consumer protection authorities in member states address deceptive marketing techniques exploiting buyers’ fears amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The Commission is using the full force of the Consumer Protection Cooperation Regulation to target profiteering by businesses selling products related to the disease such as protective masks, detergents or other substances falsely claiming that they can prevent or cure the infection.

Consumer authorities in the EU now have a legal obligation to cooperate in cross—border cases to enforce laws in the Single Market. 

The Commission and the Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Network are working closely with e-commerce platforms selling to EU customers to take down products with misleading or unfair messages such as unsupported claims about prevention or cure, excessive pricing or pressure selling methods.

EU Commissioner for Justice and Consumers, Didier Reynders, wrote to online platforms, social media, search engines and marketplaces active in the Single Market to demand that they take “corrective action” as soon as they become aware of any illegal activity taking place on their websites.