UK shamed as government misses ecommerce deadline

The UK government will definitely miss the deadline set by the European Union to implement the Ecommerce Directive - the legislation which lays down online consumer rights.

The EU deadline for all member states to comply with the Directive is 17 January 2002, but it emerged today that the UK government quietly announced late last year that it will not comply with it until summer 2002.

A spokesman from the DTI said: "We're fully aware that we've missed the deadline. We would hope the Commission is sympathetic."

Jonathan Armstrong, senior partner at law firm Eversheds, said: "In the past the EU has taken action against member states for failing to comply with Directive deadlines."

Rupert Battcock, lawyer at Nabarro Nathanson, said: "The Commission can take action on the government if it thinks it's being slow. However, I don't think a six-month delay will incur any action."

Westminster is legally bound to comply with the provisions, as are "emanations of the state" such as NHS Direct and universities, as well as private companies.

Only five of the 15 member states - Austria, Finland, Germany, Ireland and Luxembourg - have managed to comply with the deadline so far.