The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has published its annual Consumer Protection List (CPL) for 2024, detailing significant enforcement activities aimed at protecting consumers. This year’s report marks a notable increase in enforcement actions, including prosecutions of major retailers and compliance notices issued to social media influencers.

In 2024, the CCPC successfully prosecuted five traders, including well-known brands like Tesco and Homesavers. Additionally, 23 compliance notices were served, with three specifically targeting influencers who failed to disclose the commercial nature of their social media posts. A total of 47 fixed payment notices were issued to various traders, including Aldi and Dunnes Stores, for misleading pricing practices.

The CCPC conducted 205 consumer protection inspections in 2024, a 12% increase from the previous year. These inspections included 164 in-store checks, 41 online assessments, and 21 vehicle trader inspections. The CCPC's proactive approach involved unannounced inspections across multiple counties, responding to consumer complaints received through their helpline.

Brian McHugh, Chairperson of the CCPC, emphasized the importance of consumer confidence in shopping, stating that the enforcement teams are dedicated to ensuring compliance with consumer protection laws. He noted that the current fines for breaches are insufficient to deter large businesses, urging the government to empower the CCPC to impose more significant penalties.

For the first time, influencers were included in the enforcement actions, receiving compliance notices for not properly labeling commercial content. The CCPC, in collaboration with the Advertising Standards Authority, had previously issued guidance on influencer marketing. Ongoing investigations into influencer practices are expected to yield further outcomes in the near future.