European Institutions
Main links concerning consumer protection on European level.
- European Consumer Centres Network
https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/ecc/index_en.htm
https://www.eccnet.eu/
The network of European Consumer Centres (ECC-Net) serves EU consumers shopping for goods and services on the European market, providing them with advice on their EU consumer rights and helping them with their disputes with traders in other EU countries - Umbrella organization of 44 European consumer protection agencies in 32 countries
https://www.beuc.eu/ - Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency (Chafea)
http://ec.europa.eu/chafea/
Chafea started its activities on 1.1.2014 as the successor of the Executive Agency for Health and Consumers - EAHC. It implements EU Health Programmes, e.g. the Consumers Programme and the Better Training for Safer Food initiative - European Commission – ECC-Net
https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/ecc/index_en.htm - European Commission – Consumer Affairs
https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/index_en.htm - European Commission - DG SANTE, Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety
https://ec.europa.eu/dgs/health_food-safety/index_en.htm - European Commission - DG JUST, Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers
https://ec.europa.eu/justice/index_en.htm#newsroom-tab - Executive Agency for Health and Consumers
https://ec.europa.eu/eahc/ - European Commission, Representation in Austria
https://ec.europa.eu/austria/ - European Parliament, Representation in Austria
https://www.europarl.at - Citizens Signpost Service, The CSS is aimed at EU citizens who encounter problems with mobility in the European Internal Market
https://ec.europa.eu/youreurope/ - FIN-NET, Financial dispute resolution network of national out-of-court complaint schemes in the European Economic Area countries
https://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/fin-net/index_en.htm - SOLVIT, SOLVIT is an on-line problem solving network in which EU Member States work together to solve without legal proceedings problems caused by the misapplication of Internal Market law by public authorities
https://ec.europa.eu/solvit/site/index_en.htm - Europe Direct
https://ec.europa.eu/europedirect/index_en.htm - European Judicial Network in civil and commercial matters
https://ec.europa.eu/civiljustice/index_en.htm
Consumer Protection in Austria
Consumer protection has a high relevance in Austria. Here you can find the main links to Austrian institutions dealing with consumer issues.
- Austrian Consumer Association
Verein für Konsumenteninformation
https://vki.at - Austrian Consumer Association - Legal Department
https://verbraucherrecht.at - Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Consumer Protection
Bundesministerium für Arbeit, Soziales und Konsumentenschutz
https://konsumentenfragen.at - Internetombudsstelle
https://ombudstelle.at - Chamber of Labour
Arbeiterkammer
https://arbeiterkammer.at/konsument.htm - Insolvency Files - Austria
Insolvenzdatei - Österreich
https://edikte.justiz.gv.at
Alternative dispute resolution (ADR)
Another way for consumers to get help is alternative dispute resolution. There are seven sector-specific arbitration bodies in Austria (e.g. postal services, telecommunications, finances), as well as one body competent for general consumer problems.
Officially recognised arbitration bodies in Austria
- List of state-approved Austrian arbitration bodies maintained by our ECC
List by the ECC - Verbraucherschlichtung Austria
https://verbraucherschlichtung.at
General body for cases that are not sector-specific or covered by one of the other seven bodies
More Useful Websites
Links to useful websites, like press agencies or trade register.
- Register of Austrian Tour Operators
https://www.bmdw.gv.at/Unternehmen/Reiseveranstalter/Seiten/Veranstalterverzeichnis.aspx - Media News Service
https://www.pressetext.com - Austrian Press Agency
https://www.apa.at
