Competition and Consumer Protection Commission publishes record of enforcement activity for 2024
March 25, 2025
- Five successful prosecutions, including Tesco and Homesavers
- Influencers among those served compliance notices for breaching consumer protection law
- 47 fines issued to traders in eight counties
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has today published its annual Consumer Protection List (CPL) 2024 which details its consumer protection enforcement activities. The list includes traders from a wide range of sectors including supermarket chains, department stores, pub, bars and restaurants and vehicle retail. For the first time, the list also includes actions taken against influencers who failed to disclose the commercial nature of their social media posts.
In 2024, the following consumer protection enforcement actions were completed:
- 5 traders were prosecuted in court, including Tesco and Homesavers
- 23 Compliance Notices were served on traders, including three to influencers
- 47 Fixed Payment Notices were served on traders including Aldi, Brown Thomas, Currys, Dunnes Stores, Londis, Spar and more
The cause of the fines ranged from traders misleading consumers by displaying the incorrect selling price of goods, to failing to indicate the selling price of goods entirely.
Inspections up in 2024
The enforcement outcomes outlined in the CPL came from 205 consumer protection inspections in 2024 (up from 183 in 2023, an increase of 12%). This included 164 instore inspections, 41 online inspections and 21 vehicle trader inspections.
Earlier this month the CCPC conducted 58 unannounced inspections across seven counties including Cavan, Dublin, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Monaghan and Roscommon. The businesses came to the attention of the CCPC following consumer complaints to its helpline.
Brian McHugh, Chairperson of the CCPC, said:
“Consumers need to be able to shop with confidence, knowing they are getting what they paid for. Our enforcement teams have been hard at work inspecting businesses ensuring they’re following the law. We took five successful prosecutions under consumer protection law in 2024, a further three traders pleaded guilty in court in February 2025, and there are more cases on the way.
In 2023 we calculated consumer harm of nearly €1 billion per year. Currently, the level of fines that can be issued for breaches of consumer protection law is not a deterrent for large businesses and that is why we are calling on the Government to give us the power to issue meaningful fines to companies breaking consumer law. Allowing the CCPC to directly impose meaningful fines would send a clear signal to businesses that they must treat consumers fairly or face serious consequences.”
Influencers served with compliance notices
For the first time, influencers were also served with compliance notices for failing to use the correct labels to disclose the commercial nature of the content they published online. In October 2023 the CCPC, alongside the Advertising Standards Authority, published guidance on influencer advertising and marketing. In April 2024, the CCPC wrote to 26 influencers in Ireland across a range of sectors and reminded them of their obligations under consumer protection law in relation to labelling of content. Brian O’Driscoll, former professional rugby union player, and fitness coach, Caroline O’Mahony, were later served with compliance notices when it was found that posts on their accounts continued to breach consumer law.
The CCPC has several investigations ongoing in relation to influencers and further outcomes are expected this year.
Brian McHugh, Chairperson of the CCPC, said:
“We have several investigations ongoing in relation to influencers and we expect further outcomes this year.
Influencer marketing on social media can significantly shape consumers’ opinions and purchasing behaviours so it’s important that when a consumer sees commercial content on social media, they can instantly recognise it for what it is. Our research shows that almost a quarter of consumers who purchased a product as a result of an influencer promoting it subsequently felt misled.
We will continue to conduct regular unannounced inspections and would remind influencers that they need to follow the law or potentially face legal consequences.”
You can also read the full 2024 Consumer Protection List (CPL).
Find out more about previous Consumer Protection Lists.
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