Consumer protection is changing: what to expect from 2026

More information, more product repairs, and stricter rules against greenwashing

In 2026, several changes in the area of consumer protection resulting from new European rules will gradually come into effect. The amendment to Act No. 108/2024 Coll. on Consumer Protection (hereinafter referred to as the "Consumer Protection Act"), which was approved by the National Council of the Slovak Republic in October 2025, was adopted by the Slovak Republic with the aim of harmonizing national legislation with current developments in European legislation, particularly in the area of green transformation and the promotion of sustainable consumption.

The amendment ensures the transposition of two key directives. The first is Directive (EU) 2024/825 of the European Parliament and of the Council (EU) 2024/825 of 28 February 2024, amending Directives 2005/29/EC and 2011/83/EU  , which strengthens consumer rights in the context of the green transition, specifically through better information. The second is Directive (EU) 2024/1799 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 on common rules to promote the repair of goods and amending Regulation (EU) 2017/2394 and Directives (EU) 2019/771 and (EU) 2020/1828, which aims to make the internal market work more efficiently while ensuring a high level of consumer protection.

According to the explanatory memorandum, the draft amendment is intended to help consumers make more informed purchasing decisions, taking into account the environmental and social impacts of their decisions. It strengthens consumer awareness, for example, about the lifespan of goods, their reparability, the availability of spare parts, and software updates. At the same time, it expands the list of commercial practices that will be considered unfair in all circumstances, including practices related to planned obsolescence of goods, the use of non-transparent sustainability labels, and misleading environmental claims (so-called greenwashing).

The amendment also promotes repairs by extending the statutory period for claiming liability for defects by one year if the consumer chooses repair as a remedy, and introduces a new information form to make it easier for consumers to assess and compare repair services. The bill also responds to the repeal of the European Regulation on online dispute resolution for consumer disputes, strengthens supervision in the area of gambling, and introduces several clarifications with the aim of harmonizing interpretation and application practices. The individual changes and their practical implications are discussed in more detail below.