Problem odpowiedzialności za nienależyte wykonanie obowiązku informacyjnego

In European contract law and consumer law the nature of protection through information is based on imposing on business an obligation to make a declaration of knowledge to a consumer, which should enable them to make a rational decision. The implementation of efficient regulations regarding the liability for the improper fulfillment of information duties aims to maintain the level of trust between contracting parties on optimal level, and, as a result, to lead to balancing of their position respecting the freedom of contract principle. Polish model of consumer protection through information, in particular in the area of the liability for the improper fulfillment of information duties by business requires a lot of changes. In national law it is specially problematic, the lack of definition of general, legal consequences of failure to provide obligatory information, providing it in an incomplete, unclear way, but without the intention to mislead the other party.

Ochrona prawna zaufania przez informację przy świadczeniu usług finansowych

Legal protection of trust in the area of financial services is a very important subject, which finds reflexion in contemporary law, both European as well as national one. Financial services constitute, as a matter of fact, products of trust, which means that the evaluation of their properties, the relation of the quality to the price, the risk resulting from concluding the contract become known to the non-professional buyer after concluding the contract. In such circumstances, the non-professional party is forced to act in trust to the information received from the financial institution, and failure to provide the buyer with the obligatory information or providing it in an non-transparent form may lead to appearance of disturbances in the efficient functioning of market mechanisms, on which the price of the service should reflect the information about its quality and risks connected with it. The article provides an insight into the area of trust and precontractual information duties as an institution addressed to protect parties’ trust one to another. The scope of the article covers the area of financial services, in particular credit and investments.

ROTULAGEM DE ALIMENTOS COMO VEÍCULO DE INFORMAÇÃO AO CONSUMIDOR: ADEQUAÇÕES E IRREGULARIDADES

Investigou-se a adequação de 220 rótulos de alimentos de diferentes categorias com ênfase nos alimentos para fins especiais e os adicionados de nutrientes essenciais. Observou-se que a maioria dos fabricantes não cumpre a legislação brasileira em vigor, pois todos os rótulos analisados apresentaram alguma irregularidade. Verificou-se ausência de informações sobre o modo de conservação do produto (25%) e sobre a presença de corante ou aroma artificial (16,77%) nos alimentos. Também foram encontradas informações que poderiam causar engano ao consumidor (19,9%), incluindo alegações de propriedades terapêuticas dos alimentos. Em mais de 50% dos rótulos analisados, segundo a Resolução RDC 40/01, foram constatadas incorreções relativas à informação nutricional. As principais discordâncias em relação às demais portarias vigentes envolveram informações e declarações obrigatórias e específicas de cada norma. Concluiu-se que a maioria dos rótulos dos produtos analisados encontrava-se em desacordo com a legislação, havendo necessidade de fiscalização mais eficaz para reforçar o compromisso dos fabricantes com o consumidor. FOOD LABELING AS A MEANS OF INFORMATION TO THE CONSUMER: ADEQUACY AND IRREGULARITIES Abstract It was investigated for adequacy 220 food labels of different categories, with emphasis on food for special dietary uses and foods with essential nutrients added. It was observed that most of the manufacturers do not fulfill the actual Brazilian legislation because all the labels analyzed showed some irregularities. It was verified absence of information about the product conservation (25%) and the presence of colorant or artificial flavor (16,77%) in the foods. Also information that could confuse the consumer (19,9%) was found, including allegations of therapeutic properties of the food. In more than 50% of the labels analyzed according to Resolution RDC 40/01, a discrepancy involving the established nutritional information was verified. The main inconsistencies in relation to the actual law involved obligatory information and statements of each norm. It was concluded that most of the labels in the market was in disagreement with the law, proclaiming the need of a more efficient control and a higher commitment of the manufacturers with the consumer.