Online sales have changed dramatically over the past years. Many people have moved almost all shopping online. These transactions no longer involve only clothes or goods, but also more serious deals such as buying shares or bonds. The market has changed a lot, but the rules—at least the national ones that would properly protect consumers—have not kept pace. This was supposed to change from 19 June 2026, but it turns out that lawmakers failed to prepare and implement the necessary regulations on time.
The EU directive is pending
Some of the first regulations designed to ensure safety for online shoppers were created over 20 years ago. In 2011, the European Union introduced several rules that seemed sufficient at the time to increase the safety of users of e‑commerce portals. Since then, 15 years have passed, and the risks and challenges associated with online shopping have reached a completely different level. For this reason, EU officials decided to update the law again to match the times we live in. In 2023, Directive 2023/2673 of the European Parliament and the Council was adopted to replace earlier EU acts on distance selling. Member states had until 19 June 2026 to implement the new rules, but it is already known that Poland will not meet that deadline.
In mid‑2025, the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) presented the first draft of a law that would allow the implementation of the rules. The draft received many comments and proposals for changes from banks, financial supervision, and others. The comments concerned, among other things, consumer loans, specifically Free Credit Sanctions.
UOKiK prepared a second version of the draft, without abandoning its earlier assumptions. This version did not receive approval from opinion groups, and the bill stalled. In May 2026, work on the document was suspended and has not resumed to date. What does this mean for Poland, now that the implementation deadline is today (19 June 2026)? The European Commission may bring the case to the Court of Justice of the European Union, which can impose a penalty on Poland for failing to meet the deadlines for implementing the directive’s rules.
What does the European Union want to regulate?
The new rules prepared by EU officials impose, among other things, an information obligation. It concerns posting contact information and details about possible complaints for distance transactions. It also requires clear and easy access to the right of withdrawal for distance contracts. This right must be as simple as entering into the contract. The rules also introduce the need to label prices that have been tailored to a specific customer. This includes financial services, such as a consumer loan offer that has been tailored to a specific customer through bank scoring (risk assessment). EU officials also gave consumers the right to manage human intervention, not just the system, in distance contracts.
See also: UOKiK will fine you for this act! How to avoid a large financial penalty? “The simple rule,” experts warn
