Breach of information duties in the B2C e-commerce: a comparative analysis of English and Spanish law

In the study various remedies are examined: remedies directly established in the legislation, such as the withdrawal period extension or consumer not being bound by the contract, remedies for indirect duties resulting from application of the specific consumer legislation: the regime of lack of conformity of the product with the contract and private redress for misleading commercial actions (specific to the English law), and finally remedies resulting from general private law, mainly defects of consent and breach of contract. Nevertheless, since the economics of general contract law differ importantly from principles of consumer e-commerce, various problems can be associated with the application of general law remedies to the breach of information duties in B2C contracts. The shortcomings of the current status quo of consumer protection through information duties from the perspective of their breach are presented, and various possible improvements are explored.B2C e-commerce is characterised by the information asymmetry between the contracting parties. Various information duties are imposed on traders, both at the European and national level to correct this asymmetry and to ensure proper market functioning. Nevertheless, there is no clear list of remedies for breach of information duties neither in national nor European law. Apart from few exceptions, where remedies for breach of certain information requirements are directly established, consumers need to claim remedies set out in the national law, within the specific provisions of consumer law, as well as general private law. The present study compares remedies for breach of information duties available in two European legal systems, English and Spanish, thus examining solutions adopted in common and civil law. The starting point for the analysis is the different approach to the mandated disclosure that each system developed: English law treats information duties with scepticism, whilst in Spanish law the principle of pre-contractual good faith governs the relationship of the parties, who are required to provide each other with relevant information. There are two types of information requirements that need to be considered: direct information duties established in lists enumerating information items to be provided, and indirect duties, which can be deduced from less specific provisions, often such that establish negative consequences of failure to provide information.The remedies for both types of duties in both legal systems analysed often overlap, which leads to a rather chaotic scheme of private redress for breach of information duties

Incompliment dels deures d'informació en el comerç electrònic amb consumdors: adequació dels remeis disponibles

El comercio electrónico con consumidores se caracteriza por la asimetría informativa entre las partes contratantes. Para corregir dicha asimetría, la legislación tanto europea como nacional impone varios deberes de información, partiendo de la hipótesis de la racionalidad de los consumidores. No obstante, el desarrollo de la economía conductual cuestiona la hipótesis de racionalidad. La utilidad de los deberes de información precontractual depende también de los remedios disponibles a los consumidores en el caso del incumplimiento. Dichos remedios están a menudo influidos en gran medida por el derecho nacional general privado que se aplica a la relación contractual entre las partes. Sin embargo, dada la importante diferencia entre el derecho privado general y el comercio electrónico con consumidores, varios problemas resultan de la aplicación de los remedios provenientes del derecho general privado al incumplimiento de los deberes de información en los contratos con consumidores. El valor limitado del objeto de la mayoría de las transacciones en línea es incompatible con el procedimiento civil que es largo y caro. Además, a menudo el incumplimiento de los deberes de información no causará suficiente daño material para que el consumidor pueda disponer de los remedios tradicionales. Se examinan varias soluciones a estos problemas, entre las que destaca MARC, el deber de asesoramiento y los mecanismos extrajudiciales que limitan la cantidad de la información precontractual. Por último, se analiza el derecho de desistimiento, como un ejemplo de un remedio específico, adaptado a la economía de las transacciones electrónicas con consumidores. A pesar de ello, el derecho de desistimiento también tiene sus limitaciones y solamente la combinación de varias medidas, incluyendo remedios efectivos ante el incumplimiento de los deberes de información, podrá ayudar al desarrollo del comercio electrónico dentro del mercado común europeo.El comerç electrònic amb consumidors es caracteritza per la asimetria informativa entre les parts contractants. Per a corregir aquesta asimetria, la legislació tant europea com nacional imposa diversos deures d’informació, partint de la hipòtesi de la racionalitat dels consumidors. No obstant això, el desenvolupament de l’economia conductual qüestiona la hipòtesi de racionalitat. La utilitat dels deures d’informació precontractual depèn també dels remeis disponibles als consumidors en el cas de l’incompliment. Aquests remeis estan sovint influïts en gran mesura pel dret nacional general privat que s’aplica a la relació contractual entre les parts. Tanmateix, donada la important diferència entre el dret privat general i el comerç electrònic amb consumidors, diversos problemes resulten de l’aplicació dels remeis provinents del dret general privat a l’incompliment dels deures d’informació en els contractes amb consumidors. El valor limitat de l’objecte de la majoria de les transaccions en línia és incompatible amb el procediment civil, que és llarg i car. A més, sovint l’incompliment dels deures d’informació no causarà prou dany material perquè el consumidor pugui disposar dels remeis tradicionals. S’examinen diverses solucions a aquests problemes, destacant MARC, el deure d’assessorament i els mecanismes extrajudicials que limiten la quantitat de la informació precontractual. Finalment, s’analitza el dret de desistiment, com un exemple d’un remei específic, adaptat a l’economia de les transaccions electròniques amb consumidors. No obstant això, el dret de desistiment també té les seves limitacions i solament la combinació de diverses mesures, incloent-hi remeis efectius davant l’incompliment dels deures d’informació, podrà ajudar al desenvolupament del comerç electrònic dins del mercat comú europeu.B2C e-commerce is characterised by the information asymmetry between the contracting parties. Various information duties are imposed on traders, both at the European and national level to correct this asymmetry and to ensure proper market functioning. The mandated disclosure is based on the assumption of consumers' rationality. However, developments of behavioural economics challenge this assumption. The utility of mandated disclosure in consumer contracts depends also on the remedies available to consumers in a case of breach of information duties. Those remedies are often heavily influenced by the national general private law applicable to the contractual relationship between the parties. Nevertheless, since the economics of general contract law differ importantly from principles of consumer e-commerce, various problems can be associated with the application of general law remedies to the breach of information duties in B2C contracts. The limited value of the majority of the online B2C transactions is incompatible with costly and lengthy court proceedings. Moreover, breach of information duties will often not produce enough material damage on the side of the consumer to make the remedies available. Different solutions are explored, from ADR, to the duty to advise, to non-legal mechanisms making the information easier to use for consumers throughlimiting disclosure. Finally, the right of withdrawal is analysed as an example of a specific remedy, adapted to the economics of the B2C electronic transactions, where the aims parties pursue through contracts are different than in commercial contracts, and their relationship is marked with the inequality of economic power and information asymmetry. However, the legally established cooling-off period is not free from limitations, and only a combination of various measures, including effective remedies for breach of information duties, will help develop the potential of the B2C e-commerce within the European internal market

Breach of information duties in the B2C e-commerce: adequacy of available remedies

B2C e-commerce is characterised by the information asymmetry between the contracting parties. Various information duties are imposed on traders, both at the European and national level to correct this asymmetry and to ensure proper market functioning. The mandated disclosure is based on the assumption of consumers' rationality. However, developments of behavioural economics challenge this assumption. The utility of mandated disclosure in consumer contracts depends also on the remedies available to consumers in a case of breach of information duties. Those remedies are often heavily influenced by the national general private law applicable to the contractual relationship between the parties. Nevertheless, since the economics of general contract law differ importantly from principles of consumer e-commerce, various problems can be associated with the application of general law remedies to the breach of information duties in B2C contracts. The limited value of the majority of the online B2C transactions is incompatible with costly and lengthy court proceedings. Moreover, breach of information duties will often not produce enough material damage on the side of the consumer to make the remedies available. Different solutions are explored, from ADR, to the duty to advise, to non-legal mechanisms making the information easier to use for consumers throughlimiting disclosure. Finally, the right of withdrawal is analysed as an example of a specific remedy, adapted to the economics of the B2C electronic transactions, where the aims parties pursue through contracts are different than in commercial contracts, and their relationship is marked with the inequality of economic power and information asymmetry. However, the legally established cooling-off period is not free from limitations, and only a combination of various measures, including effective remedies for breach of information duties, will help develop the potential of the B2C e-commerce within the European internal market.</p

Influence of Replacement Part of Starch with Inulin on the Rheological Properties of Pastes and Gels Based on Potato Starch

The objective of the present study was to determine the influence of replacement part of starch with inulin on the rheological characteristics of pastes and gels obtained on the basis of potato starch. Replacement of the starch by inulin varied from 0 to 40%. Flow curves for pastes and gels were determined, and the viscoelastic properties were characterized using dynamic tests and creep and recovery tests. It was determined that the replacement of part of potato starch with inulin significantly modifies rheological properties of starch pastes and gels, weakening their structure. With the increasing amount of inulin, an increase of viscous properties was becoming more apparent. Moreover, an irregular influence of inulin addition on the parameters of rheological characteristics was determined. Initially, the differences were minor, and the differences at the lowest addition were typically statistically insignificant, followed by strong increase with local restrictions to structural weakening

Metabolic syndrome is associated with similar long-term prognosis in non-obese and obese patients. An analysis of 45 615 patients from the nationwide LIPIDOGRAM 2004-2015 cohort studies

Aims We aimed to evaluate the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and long-term all-cause mortality. Methods The LIPIDOGRAM studies were carried out in the primary care in Poland in 2004, 2006 and 2015. MetS was diagnosed based on the National Cholesterol Education Program, Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP/ATP III) and Joint Interim Statement (JIS) criteria. The cohort was divided into four groups: non-obese patients without MetS, obese patients without MetS, non-obese patients with MetS and obese patients with MetS. Differences in all-cause mortality was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses. Results 45,615 participants were enrolled (mean age 56.3, standard deviation: 11.8 years; 61.7% female). MetS was diagnosed in 14,202 (31%) by NCEP/ATP III criteria, and 17,216 (37.7%) by JIS criteria. Follow-up was available for 44,620 (97.8%, median duration 15.3 years) patients. MetS was associated with increased mortality risk among the obese (hazard ratio, HR: 1.88 [95% CI, 1.79-1.99] and HR: 1.93 [95% CI 1.82-2.04], according to NCEP/ATP III and JIS criteria, respectively) and non-obese individuals (HR: 2.11 [95% CI 1.85-2.40] and 1.7 [95% CI, 1.56-1.85] according to NCEP/ATP III and JIS criteria respectively). Obese patients without MetS had a higher mortality risk than non-obese patients without MetS (HR: 1.16 [95% CI 1.10-1.23] and HR: 1.22 [95%CI 1.15-1.30], respectively in subgroups with NCEP/ATP III and JIS criteria applied). Conclusions MetS is associated with increased all-cause mortality risk in non-obese and obese patients. In patients without MetS obesity remains significantly associated with mortality. The concept of metabolically healthy obesity should be revised