Spain’s Constitutional Court suspends Catalan Consumer Code, new retail law

The Spanish Constitutional Court has agreed to hear two challenges by the Spanish government against the Consumer Code of Catalonia, and against the decree to reform the Catalan Retail law. The action by the court means that this legislation remains suspended for a period of no longer than five months while the high court decides on the merits of the cases.

The Consumer Code was approved in December 2014 and included measures to protect individuals against energy poverty, and also included provisions to protect citizens who had taken out mortgages or bank loans. The Code was passed to replace a decree that had already been suspended by the Constitutional Court.

Regarding the retail law, Madrid’s challenge targets a provision whereby new retail outlets are not allowed in the outskirts of towns and cities. Spain’s PP government believes that the Catalan regulation violates the Spanish law of retail commerce and the law of access to activities and services.