McGregor issued compliance notice over stout posts

Conor McGregor has been issued a compliance notice for breaches of consumer protection legislation.

The Irish Competition and Consumer Protection Commission published details of the case among 18 enforcement actions taken against traders and other influences, including Suzanne Jackson.

For McGregor, the CCPC said he engaged in a “prohibited commercial practice” by failing to disclose that products related to Forged Irish Stout, which were promoted on his Instagram account, were not disclosed as paid content with appropriate labels.

The mixed martial artis fighter was told: “You, Conor McGregor, a trader, are hereby directed to ensure that, in all futures instances, where a trader has paid you to use editorial content in the media to promote a product or service, you make it clear that such promotion is a paid promotion.”

Ms Jackson was found to failed to use appropriate labels to disclose the commercial nature of the content published, relating to Sosu Cosmetics.

Both were told that disclosure on paid product relates to “own brand” products.

“You may achieve this by using clear and appropriate primary disclosure labels such as ‘Ad’ or ‘#Ad’. Using secondary disclosure labels such as ‘Own Brand’ or ‘#OwnBrand’, in addition to primary disclosure labels, is at your own discretion.”

Patrick Kenny, member of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) said: “Whether you’re a retailer, a publican or an influencer, you must comply with consumer law.

“Our officers carry out hundreds of instore and online inspections, sweeps and investigations every year, assessing thousands of products and transactions to make sure consumer rights are upheld across the economy.”

A compliance notice is a written legal notice that the CCPC can issue to a trader who has committed or is currently committing a prohibited act or practice.

Failure to obey a compliance notice is an offence, and the CCPC said it will prosecute those who do not correct their practices.

The CCPC has long called for stronger enforcement powers and the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (DETE) recently launched a public consultation on proposed legislation that would, among other measures, allow the CCPC to issue direct fines for serious or repeated breaches.

Mr Kenny said: “We look forward to the introduction of direct fining powers for the CCPC.

“The ability to issue significant fines is an essential addition to our enforcement toolkit.”