European Fair Trading Law ― The Unfair Commercial Practices Directive

Adopted by the European Community in May of 2005, the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive introduces a general prohibition on a range of unfair business-to-consumer practices. In this work, Howells (Lancaster U., UK), Micklitz (U. of Bamberg, Germany), and Wilhelmsson (U. of Helsinki, Finland) seek to explain the directive while considering its implications for trading and consumer protection in Europe and its relationship to national trade practices law. Following an introduction to the development of the directive, they offer chapters discussing minimum/maximum harmonization and the internal market clause, scope of the directive, the general clause on unfair practices, misleading practices, aggressive commercial practices, codes of conduct, and legal redress. Annotation c2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Geraint Howells is Professor of Law at Manchester University, UK and Barrister Gough Squre Chambers, UK. He has written widely on consumer law issues and his books include: Consumer Product Safety, (Ashgate, 1998); Consumer Protection Law , (2nd Edition, Ashgate, 2005); and EC Consumer Law, (Ashgate, 1997). He frequently acts as consultant for organisations such as the European Commission, DTI and NCC and is a member of the European Consumer Law Group. He is currently editor of the Yearbook of Consumer Law and Markets and Law series for Ashgate publishers. Hans-W. Micklitz is Jean Monnet Chair of Private Law and European Economic Law at the University of Bamberg, Germany and Head of the Institute of European and Consumer Law (VIEW). His work includes: studies of law and sociology in Mainz, Lausanne/Geneva, Giessen and Hamburg; consultancies for OECD in Paris, UNEP Geneva Switzerland/Nairobi Kenya and CI (Consumers International) as well as study visits at the University of Michigan, USA. Miclitz is also Jean Monnet Fellow at the European University Institute Florence, Italy and visiting professor at the University of Oxford. He has been head of the Scientific Committee on Consumer and Nutrition Policy at the Ministry of Consumer Protection, Nutrition and Agriculture since 2003. Dr Thomas Wilhelmsson is Professor of Civil and Commercial Law at the University of Helsinki, Finland. He is Vice-rector of the University and in charge of international affairs. Professor Wilhelmsson has published law books and articles in twelve languages. His main books in English are Social Contract Law and European Integration (Ashgate,1995) and EC Consumer Law (with Geraint Howells: Ashgate, 1997). For ten years he was a member of the Finnish Market Court and is actively engaged in commercial arbitration. He is a member of the Commission on European Contract Law (the Lando-Commission) and the Acquis group and has been awarded the title Doctor iuris honoris causa by the Uppsala, Oslo and Tartu Universities.