PART 1General

Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Alternative Dispute Resolution for Consumer Disputes (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2015 and come into force on 9th January 2016.

PART 2Amendments to Primary Legislation

Amendment to the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973

2.—(1) The Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973(3) is amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (2) of section 14 (computation of prescriptive periods)(4) omit the definition of “ADR official”.

Amendment to the Limitation Act 1980

3.—(1) The Limitation Act 1980(5) is amended as follows.

(2) In section 33B (extension of time limits because of alternative dispute resolution in certain cross-border or domestic contractual disputes)(6) omit subsection (1)(c).

Amendment to the Foreign Limitation Periods Act 1984

4.—(1) The Foreign Limitation Periods Act 1984(7) is amended as follows.

(2) In section 1B (extension of limitation periods because of alternative dispute resolution in certain cross-border or domestic contractual disputes)(8) omit subsection 1(c).

Amendment to the Equality Act 2010

5.—(1) The Equality Act 2010(9) is amended as follows.

(2) In section 140AA(extension of time limits because of alternative dispute resolution in certain cross-border or domestic contractual disputes)(10) omit subsection 1(c).

PART 3Amendments to Secondary Legislation

Amendment to the Limitation (Northern Ireland) Order 1989

6.—(1) The Limitation (Northern Ireland) Order 1989(11) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph 5 of Article 51B (extension of time limits: non-binding ADR procedure)(12) omit the definition of “ADR official”.

Amendments to the Alternative Dispute Resolution for Consumer Disputes (Competent Authorities and Information) Regulations 2015

7.—(1) The Alternative Dispute Resolution for Consumer Disputes (Competent Authorities and Information) Regulations 2015(13) are amended as follows.

(2) After regulation 8 insert—

“Consumer information regarding the ODR platform

8A.  A competent authority must provide a link to the ODR platform on its website.”

(3) In regulation 15(1)(b) for “to 14” substitute “and 12”.

(4) In paragraph 2 of Schedule 3 insert—

“(g)provides a link to the ODR platform on its website.”

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations correct minor errors made by the Alternative Dispute Resolution for Consumer Disputes (Amendment) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/1392) and introduces one provision which implements a provision of Regulation (EU) No 524/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2013 on online dispute resolution for consumer disputes and amending Regulation (EC) 200/2004 and Directive 2009/22/EC (OJ L 165 18.6.2013, p.1) (the “ODR Regulation”) which requires specific transposition into domestic law in order to make the obligation it contains enforceable.

Regulations 2 to 6 make amendments to four acts and one statutory instrument to omit the definition of “ADR official” as the definition is redundant.

Regulation 7(2) and (4) introduces a new provision into the Alternative Dispute Resolution for Consumer Disputes (Competent Authorities and Information) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/542) (the “ADR Regulations”) to provide that a competent authority and an ADR applicant and ADR entity must provide a link to the ODR platform on its website.

Regulation 7(3) corrects a cross-reference in regulation 15(1)(b) of the ADR Regulations.

A transposition note setting out how the ADR Regulations as amended by this instrument transposes those requirements of the ODR Regulation which require specific transposition is available on www.gov.uk/government/publications.