Unfair trading practices

If you sell goods or provide services to consumers in the Netherlands, you must not use unfair trading practices, which includes:

• offering ‘incentives’ which are not available when the customer goes to the store;
• offering products ‘free of charge’ for which customers ultimately have to pay;
• quoting prices that do not include all additional charges/costs;
• using a confidence/quality label or a similar label without the required permission to do so.

The rules and regulations governing unfair trading practices are included in Section 193(a) to Section 193(j) of Book 6 of the Netherlands Civil Code (Burgerlijk Wetboek).

Fine

The Netherlands Consumer Authority (Nederlandse Consumentenautoriteit) can impose a fine of up to €450,000 in response to violations of the rules and regulations. The Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (Autoriteit Financiële Markten, AFM) imposes the fine for violations involving financial products or services.

Unfair trading practices outside the Netherlands

If you encounter unfair trading practices outside the Netherlands, you can report this to the Trade barriers hotline (Meldpunt Handelsbelemmeringen) at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation. If you have to deal with obstacles as a result of incorrectly applied European rules by governmental entities, you can make a complaint at the SOLVIT Centre Nederland.