Protection of consumers: liability of suppliers of services

PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DIRECTIVE ON THE LIABILITY OF SUPPLIERS OF SERVICES - COM (90) 482 - 20 DECEMBER 1990 This proposal for a Directive would make providers of services liable for damages caused by them or their products to the health and physical well-being of the consumer or his property. It lays down similar rules to those applying to the manufacturers of defective products - the Product Liability Directive. The Directive would reverse the notion of the burden of proof in favour of the victim and, instead, the provider of the services would have to prove that he has not committed an offence. All services that may give rise to damages to the health or well- being of the individual and private property, with the exception of public safety services that are already included in specific EC rules or that are covered by international convention, would fall within the scope of the Directive.�