CONSUMER RIGHTS IN CASE OF MATERIAL DEFECT OF A PRODUCT

Pravo zaštite potrošača, kao nova grana prava, u Republici Hrvatskoj se počinje razvijati 2001. godine kada je potpisan Sporazum o stabilizaciji i pridruživanju između Republike Hrvatske i Europske zajednice. Obveze koje su bile propisane tim Sporazumom, dovele su do toga da su hrvatski pravni propisi gotovo u potpunosti usklađeni s europskim odredbama koje se odnose na zaštitu potrošača. Kako se u Republici Hrvatskoj odredbe o zaštiti potrošača nalaze osim u Zakonu o zaštiti potrošača i u drugim Zakonima, potrebno je konstantno pratiti i primjenjivati tumačenja koju pružaju ESP, odnosno Sud EU. Najvažnija Direktiva koja je donesena u ovoj grani prava je Direktiva 1999/44 o određenim aspektima prodaje potrošačkih dobara i povezanim garancijama, koja je izmijenjena i dopunjena Direktivom 2011/83 o pravima potrošača. Stoga je glavni cilj ovog rada upoznati se prvenstveno s razvojem ove grane prava, potom prikazati rješenja koja je europski zakonodavac predvidio, te rješenja za koja se odlučio hrvatski zakonodavac radi ispunjavanja obveze usklađivanja.The law of consumer protection as a new branch of law in the Republic of Croatia began to develop in 2001 with the signing of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the Croatian and the European Community. Commitments that were prescribed by the Agreement, have led to the Croatian legislation almost fully harmonized with the EU provisions relating to consumer protection. In the Republic of Croatia, the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act are in addition to the Consumer Protection Act and other laws, it is necessary to constantly monitor and apply the interpretation provided by the ECJ or the Court of the EU. The most important Directive which was adopted in this branch of law is Directive 1999/44 on certain aspects of the sale of consumer goods and associated guarantees, as amended by Directive 2011/83 on the rights of consumers. Therefore, the main objective of this paper is primarily familiar with the development of this branch of law, then show the solutions that the European legislator predicted, and solutions that are decided by the Croatian legislator to meet the obligations of harmonization