The Instrument revokes the “retained EU law” version of the Geo-Blocking Regulation (Regulation 2018/302) and revokes the Ge o-Blocking (Enforcement) Regulations 2018. These revocations are being made in order to address deficiencies arising as a result of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. Explanations
‘Geo-blocking’ is the term used to describe traders discriminating against customers on the basis of the nationality or location of the customer, for example by automatically re-directing customers to country-specific versions of their website with different terms and conditions. The Geo-Blocking Regulation prohibits certain forms of geo-blocking. This includes mandating access to all versions of a website in the EU, non-discrimination between EU customers when di stance shopping (online or otherwise), and non-discrimination in payment terms accepted.
This Instrument applies to consumer protection which does not relate to product safety, which is a transferred matter for Northern Ireland under Section 4(1) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
