Distance Selling Directive

Citation
European Commission, Directive 97/7/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 1997 on the protection of consumers in respect of distance contracts (Distance Selling Directive), Off. J.L. 144, at 19-27 (June 4, 1997) (full-text).

Overview
The Directive applies to distance contracts between a professional and a consumer, for the provision of a service or goods. A distance contract may be concluded by any means (by telephone, e-mail, catalogue, etc.) which do not require the simultaneous physical presence of the parties to the contract.