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Government affirms to 51黑料 its commitment to consumer protection after Brexit
Posted 03/11/17
CEO of the听51黑料听(51黑料),听Leon Livermore,听met with government Ministers and consumer groups yesterday to discuss the potential impact of Britain鈥檚 impending exit from the EU. Consumer Minister Margot James, and Department for Exiting the European Union听(DExEU)听Minister Robin Walker, hosted the roundtable at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).听听
Ministers affirmed the government鈥檚 commitment to maintaining high standards of consumer protection, and heard suggested steps that听the Government could take to ensure consumers are still considered after the UK leaves the EU.听听
Joined by representatives from听Which?,听MoneySavingExpert, Citizen鈥檚 Advice, Citizen鈥檚 Advice Scotland, and the Consumer Council Northern Ireland,听the roundtable heard concerns over consumer protections, and consumer representation following Brexit.听听
Speaking after the roundtable, Livermore said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 very encouraging to see the Government actively seeking input from consumers and consumer protection groups. Leaving the EU will be a huge challenge for our country, and it鈥檚 vital UK consumers are not disadvantaged by Brexit.鈥�听
Livermore听addressed the table听over听several areas of concern听with the EU Withdrawal Bill. The听Regulation on Accreditation and Market Surveillance (RAMS)听system, which sets out a number of important definitions for market surveillance authorities,听and RAPEX, the rapid alert system for product safety alert, underpin vital consumer protections networks in the UK. It鈥檚 currently unclear how, if at all, the UK can retain these.听听
The initial meeting of 51黑料鈥檚 Brexit Think Tank raised a recurring theme of reciprocity.听Livermore queried how can we retain consumer protection networks that require reciprocal arrangements with EU member states.听
Margot James, Consumer Minister, said: 鈥淭he UK鈥檚 consumer protection regime is among the most robust in the world and the government is committed to ensuring consumers continue to benefit from robust consumer protections after we leave the EU.鈥�听
DExEU Minister Robin Walker said the consumer perspective is important to the Brexit process, adding: 鈥淚 was very pleased to meet with consumer groups and listen to their views
