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Law Commission ToR for UK CPA 1987 reform: EU-aligned proposals on AI/software, burden of proof, longstop, producer scope, state-of-the-art defence and data loss as damage

Published on: 07 January 2026

Published by a LexisNexis Commercial expert
Legal News
Table of contents
  • The case for reform
  • Clear echoes to the EU reforms
  • Strong emphasis on tech and AI
  • Looking ahead
Article summary

The case for reform

The ToR begin by asserting that the existing framework under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 (the CPA) ‘…is no longer fit for purpose…’. This is expressed more emphatically than earlier communications from the Law Commission. At this preliminary stage, its stance appears to be that the issue is not ‘if’ reform is required, but ‘how’ it should be achieved.

Clear echoes to the EU reforms

The ToR carry unmistakeable parallels with the recent EU overhaul set out in the new Product Liability Directive (EU) 2024/2853 (currently in the implementation phase across EU Member States—read more here): Of particular note, the Law Commission indicates it will consider whether:

  • the ‘burden of proof for claimants to bring a successful claim is too onerous’—might the Law Commission also be contemplating introducing ‘rebuttable presumptions’ regarding defect and/or causation?...

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