A SERIES of measures to provide increased protection to consumers in respect of "distance contracts" was agreed yesterday in Brussels.

Distance sales contracts are ones that take place, for example, via brochures, mail order catalogues, the telephone, fax or the Internet.

"At present, world wide distance sales are worth many billions of pounds and continue to record exceptional growth," said the Minister of State for Commerce, Science and Technology, Mr Pat Rabbitte, who chaired the meeting which agreed the new measures.

Under the terms of the Distance Sales Contracts Directive the customer must be given complete information, before the sale is completed, about the identity of the supplier, the characteristics of the goods or services, the price, including delivery charges, the method of payment and the duration for which a sales offer is valid.

Consumers must be given a seven day "cooling off period" during which they can withdraw from the contract, and the contract must be performed within 30 days of receipt of the customer's order.

The Distance Sales Contracts Directive will now be transposed into the domestic law of the EU member states. In Ireland the directive will be enforced by the Director of Consumer Affairs.