(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

The Regulations give effect to Directive 2013/11/EU on alternative dispute resolution for consumer disputes and amending Regulation (EC) No. 2006/2004 and Directive 2009/22/EC.

The Regulations apply to procedures for the out-of-court resolution of domestic and cross-border consumer disputes concerning contractual obligations stemming from sales or services contracts, both online and offline, in all economic sectors, other than the exempted sectors and only apply to complaints submitted by a consumer against a trader.

The Regulations designate the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission as the competent authority in the State for the purposes of the Directive and the enforcement of the Regulations.

The Regulations set out the requirements which a dispute resolution entity must fulfil to be recognised as a qualified ADR entity, and specifies the information which a trader must make available to a consumer.