Geo-Blocking: a new Regulation enters into force
Regulation (EU) 2018/302 addresses unjustified on line sales discrimination based on customers' nationality, place of residence or place of establishment within the internal market. The ban on geo-blocking is an important element of the digital single market strategy.
The Regulation enters into force on 22 March 2018 in all EU Member States and will apply from 3 December 2018 to allow in particular small traders to adapt.
It amends Regulations (EC) 2006/2004 and (EU) 2017/2394 and Directive 2009/22/EC.
Within two years after the entry into force of the new rules, the Commission will carry out a first evaluation of their impact on the internal market. The evaluation will include a possible application of the new rules to certain electronically supplied services which offer copyrighted content such as downloadable music, e-books, software and online games as well as of services in sectors such as transport and audio-visual.
List of documents
- Regulation (EU) 2018/302 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 February 2018 on addressing unjustified geo-blocking and other forms of discrimination based on customers' nationality, place of residence or place of establishment within the internal market and amending Regulations (EC) No 2006/2004 and (EU) 2017/2394 and Directive 2009/22/EC (Text with EEA relevance.)
- Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 October 2004 on cooperation between national authorities responsible for the enforcement of consumer protection laws (the Regulation on consumer protection cooperation)Text with EEA relevance
- Regulation (EU) 2017/2394 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2017 on cooperation between national authorities responsible for the enforcement of consumer protection laws and repealing Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 (Text with EEA relevance)
- Directive 2009/22/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on injunctions for the protection of consumers' interests (Codified version) Text with EEA relevance
Summaries of EU legislation
- Enjoying online content without borders
- The EU's new digital single market strategy
- Unfair commercial practices
- Cooperation between EU countries for consumer protection
- Injunctions protecting the collective interests of consumers
More on consumer protection
- Consultative Group for EU consumers
- European Consumer Centres Network - helping consumers exercise their rights when making purchases abroad
- EU multiannual consumer programme (2014-20)
- Strengthening EU consumer rights
- E-commerce - standard EU rules
Glossary terms of the summaries of EU legislation
Related Sites
- Digital Single Market - Geoblocking
- Press release - Joint statement by Vice-President Ansip, Commissioners Bieńkowska and Gabriel following the European Parliament's vote to end unjustified geoblocking
- Analysis of part of the public consultation on geo-blocking