The Regulation of Restaurant Services Consumed On-Site in EU Consumer Law Karolina Pruchniewicz1 Introduction. – The General EU Consumer Protection for Restaurants. – Food Safety and Quality Standards in Restaurants. – Food Information and Allergens in Restaurants. – Conclusion. While eating out might at first sight be expected to be a standard commercial transaction, it is in fact regulated by a complex regulatory framework in European Union consumer law. Restaurant services taken in fall within the scope of general EU measures for the protection of consumers from unfair contract terms and misleading commercial practices. Though not all consumer acquis rules govern on-premises transactions, basic requirements regarding price transparency, liability disclaimers, and accuracy of information continue to be fully applicable. This regime is designed to be supplemented by food-industry-specific legislation, which, despite differences in scope, contributes towards enhanced consumer protection by subjecting rules on food safety, hygiene, and mandatory disclosure. The interpretive case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union has been instrumental in defining restaurateurs’ boundaries, especially regarding the quality and conformity of foodstuffs, the fairness of contractual conditions, and the provision of adequate and timely information to consumers. Through an analysis of the scope and legal effects of such regulations, this current discussion not only provides a doctrinal explanation of applicable rules, but also to the establishment of Gastronomy Law as a new interdisciplinary branch between the food-triangle, consumer protection, and internal market regulation triangle. Keywords: EU consumer law, restaurant services, on-site consumption, gastronomy law, food safety, consumer protection, digital platforms, sustainability DOI 10.60559/gl27 1 Sustainability Law Group, University of Oslo.
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