The Council of the European Union has published a corrigendum, dated 5 August 2026, correcting four errors in the Spanish language version of Directive (EU) 2019/2161, which modernises EU consumer protection rules. The corrections replace the term "productos" (products) with "bienes" (goods) in four specific provisions, affecting the Spanish text of the directive as published in the Official Journal on 18 December 2019.
The corrigendum addresses errors in recitals 22 and 53, as well as in Article 2, point 1, and Article 3, point 3. In recital 22, the phrase "productos y servicios" is changed to "bienes y servicios" in the context of search results for travel, accommodation, and leisure activities. Recital 53 sees two changes from "productos" to "bienes" concerning same-brand goods in different package sizes and label information alternatives. Article 2, point 1, amends Article 6a(3) of Directive 98/6/EC, regarding goods that may deteriorate or expire quickly, while Article 3, point 3, amends Article 6(2)(c) of Directive 2005/29/EC, concerning the marketing of goods as identical across Member States.
This is a technical correction with no substantive change to the directive's content. The directive, formally adopted on 27 November 2019, introduced amendments to four existing consumer protection instruments—Directives 93/13/EEC, 98/6/EC, 2005/29/EC, and 2011/83/EU—to strengthen enforcement and modernise rules in areas such as online marketplaces, dual quality of products, and transparency in search results. The corrigendum ensures consistency in the Spanish terminology, aligning it with the directive's use of "bienes" for goods.
Member States have eight days from the publication of the corrigendum to submit observations to the Council's legal service at dql.rectificatifs@consilium.europa.eu. The text has also been sent to the European Parliament for information. The corrigendum will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union, after which the Spanish version will be considered corrected retroactively to the date of the original publication.
Stakeholders relying on the Spanish text of the directive—including national authorities, businesses, and consumer organisations—should note the corrected terminology, which may affect interpretation of provisions related to goods versus services. The correction is minor and does not alter the directive's obligations, but it clarifies the scope of certain provisions, particularly those concerning product labelling and marketing practices. The change from "productos" to "bienes" aligns with the directive's broader use of "bienes" for tangible goods, potentially reducing ambiguity for legal practitioners and enforcement bodies in Spanish-speaking jurisdictions.
The corrigendum is a routine administrative step, reflecting the Council's attention to linguistic accuracy in EU legislation. It does not require transposition by Member States, as it merely corrects the official text. The directive itself remains in force, with Member States required to have implemented its provisions by 28 November 2021, as originally scheduled.