The Alternative Dispute Resolution for Consumer Disputes (Extension of Time Limits for Legal Proceedings) (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020

This instrument amends four pieces of EU-derived legislation which extend the time limit for bringing court proceedings where a consumer is engaged in non-binding alternative dispute resolution (ADR). These are: the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973, the Limitation Act 1980, the Foreign Limitation Periods Act 1984 and the Limitation (Northern Ireland) Order 1989. The instrument removes references to the ADR Directive (2013/11/EU) and the effect of the amendments is that the relevant time limit will only be extended for ADR in which the consumer is resident in the UK and uses the services of an ADR provider which is authorised within the UK. The amendments substantively mirror amendments already made to section 140AA (extension of time limits because of alternative dispute resolution in certain cross border or domestic contractual disputes) of the Equality Act 2010 by the Equality (Amendment and Revocation) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/305) (“the Equality Exit Regulations”). 2.4 This instrument also amends the Equality Exit Regulations for full consistency of drafting and to insert a transitional provision into those Regulations.

The government withdrew this statutory instrument from consideration on 24th April and re-laid it on the 24th April with the revised Explanatory Memorandum.

Statutory Instrument

The Alternative Dispute Resolution for Consumer Disputes (Extension of Time Limits for Legal Proceedings) (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020

Explanatory Memorandum

Explanatory Memorandum

Sifting committees’ recommendation

The sifting committees disagreed with the government and recommended that this statutory instrument needs to be debated in parliament.

Published 21 April 2020
Last updated 18 May 2020 + show all updates
  1. The government withdrew this statutory instrument from consideration on 24th April and re-laid it on the 24th April with a revised Explanatory Memorandum.

  2. Revised Explanatory Memorandum

  3. First published.