The Council adopted a resolution in 1975 for a preliminary programme on consumer protection and information technology.

[3] The Pearson Commission in the UK noted that this work had started, and refrained from making their own recommendations.

115) of the Treaty of Rome and the aim to achieve a single market: The Council shall, acting unanimously on a proposal from the Commission, issue directives for the approximation of such laws, regulations or administrative provisions of the members states as directly affect the establishment of the common market.

This liability is in addition to any existing rights that consumers enjoy under domestic law (article 13).

In 2021, the European Commission conducted an Impact Assessment study on the possible revision of the Product Liability Directive.