Content Options

Content Options

View Options


You are viewing the version of the document as on 2021-01-01.

Preamble

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Directive (EU) 2016/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 January 2016 on insurance distribution, and in particular Article 20(9) thereof,

Whereas:

  1. (1)

    Directive (EU) 2016/97 requires manufacturers of non-life insurance products as listed in Annex I to Directive 2009/138/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council to draw up a standardised insurance product information document so as to provide customers with the necessary information about non-life insurance products as listed in Annex I of Directive 2009/138/EC in order to allow the customer to make an informed decision.

  2. (2)

    Article 20(8) of Directive (EU) 2016/97 specifies which information the insurance product information document should contain.

  3. (3)

    In order to provide customers with product information which is easy to read, understand and compare, a common design, structure and format should be used when presenting the information referred to in Article 20(8) of Directive (EU) 2016/97 in the standardised insurance product information document referred to in Article 20(5) of that Directive, including by way of the use of icons or symbols. Equally, information about add-ons and optional covers, if any, should not be preceded by ticks, crosses or exclamation marks and the information to be included in the insurance product information document should normally be set out on two sides of A4 paper, but should not in any event exceed three sides of A4 paper.

  4. (4)

    This Regulation is based on the draft implementing technical standards submitted by the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) to the Commission.

  5. (5)

    In accordance with Article 20(9) of Directive (EU) 2016/97, EIOPA has conducted consumer testing of the standardised insurance product information document and consulted national authorities. EIOPA has also conducted open public consultations on the draft implementing technical standards on which this Regulation is based, analysed the potential related costs and benefits, and requested the opinion of the Insurance and Reinsurance Stakeholder Group established in accordance with Article 37 of Regulation (EU) No 1094/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article -1 Application

  1. (1)

    Articles 1 to 7 apply to persons carrying on insurance distribution to which Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1469 would have applied prior to IP completion day as defined in the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.

  2. (2)

    Paragraph 1 includes any person able to carry on insurance distribution in the UK due to regulations 8 or 11 of the EEA Passport Rights (Amendment, etc., and Transitional Provisions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018.

Article 1 Name and company logo of the manufacturer

  1. (1)

    The name of the manufacturer of the non-life insurance product, its regulatory status, and, where relevant, its authorisation number shall immediately follow the title "insurance product information document" at the top of the first page.

  2. (2)

    The manufacturer may insert its company logo to the right of the title.

Article 2 Reference to complete pre-contractual and contractual information

The insurance product information document shall state prominently that complete pre-contractual and contractual information about the non-life insurance product is provided to the customer in other documents. That statement shall be placed immediately below the name of the manufacturer of the non-life insurance product.

Article 3 Length

The insurance product information document shall be set out on two sides of A4-sized paper when printed. Exceptionally, if more space is needed, the insurance product information document may be set out on a maximum of three sides of A4-sized paper when printed. Where a manufacturer uses three sides of A4-sized paper, it shall, upon request by the Financial Conduct Authority, be able to demonstrate that more space was needed.

Article 4 Presentation and order of content

  1. (1)

    The information of the insurance product information document listed in in Article 20(8) of Directive (EU) 2016/97 shall be presented in different sections and in accordance with the structure, lay-out, headings and sequence as set out in the standardised presentation format in the Annex to this Regulation, using a font size with an x-height of at least 1,2 mm.

  2. (2)

    The length of the sections may vary, depending on the amount of information that is to be included in each section. Information about add-ons and optional covers shall not be preceded by ticks, crosses or exclamation marks.

  3. (3)

    Where the insurance product information document is presented using a durable medium other than paper, the size of the components in the layout may be changed, provided that the layout, headings and sequence of the standardised presentation format, as well as the relative prominence and size of the different elements, are retained.

  4. (4)

    Where the dimensions of the durable medium other than paper are such that a layout using two columns is not feasible, a presentation using a single column may be used, provided that the sequence of the sections is as follows:

    1. (a)

      "What is this type of insurance?"

    2. (b)

      "What is insured?"

    3. (c)

      "What is not insured?"

    4. (d)

      "Are there any restrictions on cover?"

    5. (e)

      "Where am I covered?"

    6. (f)

      "What are my obligations?"

    7. (g)

      "When and how do I pay?"

    8. (h)

      "When does the cover start and end?"

    9. (i)

      "How do I cancel the contract?".

  5. (5)

    The use of digital tools, including layering and pop-ups shall be permitted, provided that all the information referred to in Article 20(8) of Directive (EU) 2016/97 is provided in the main body of the insurance product information document and that the use of such tools does not distract the customer's attention from the content of the main document.

    Information provided through layering and pop-ups shall not include marketing or advertising material.

Article 5 Plain language

The insurance product information document shall be drafted in plain language, facilitating the customer's understanding of the content of that document, and shall focus on key information which the customer needs to make an informed decision. Jargon shall be avoided.

Article 6 Headings and information thereunder

  1. (1)

    The sections of the insurance product information document shall have the following headings and the following information thereunder:

    1. (a)

      the information on the type of insurance referred to in Article 20(8)(a) of Directive (EU) 2016/97 shall be included under the heading "What is this type of insurance?", at the top of the document;

    2. (b)

      the information on the main risks insured referred to in Article 20(8)(b) of Directive (EU) 2016/97 shall be included under the heading "What is insured?". Each piece of information listed in this section shall be preceded by a green "tick" symbol;

    3. (c)

      the information on the insured sum referred to in Article 20(8)(b) of Directive (EU) 2016/97 shall be included under the heading "What is insured?";

    4. (d)

      the information on geographical scope, where applicable, referred to in Article 20(8)(b) of Directive (EU) 2016/97 shall be included under the heading "Where am I covered?". Each piece of information listed in this section shall be preceded by a blue "tick" symbol;

    5. (e)

      the information on a summary of the excluded risks referred to in Article 20(8)(b) of Directive (EU) 2016/97 shall be included under the heading "What is not insured?". Each piece of information in this section shall be preceded by a red "X" symbol;

    6. (f)

      the information on the main exclusions referred to in Article 20(8)(d) of Directive (EU) 2016/97 shall be included under the heading "Are there any restrictions on cover?". Each piece of information listed in this section shall be preceded by an orange exclamation mark symbol;

    7. (g)

      the information on the relevant obligations referred to in points (e), (f) and (g) of Article 20(8) of Directive (EU) 2016/97 shall be included under the heading "What are my obligations?";

    8. (h)

      the information on the means and duration of payment of premiums referred to in Article 20(8)(c) of Directive (EU) 2016/97 shall be included under the heading "When and how do I pay?";

    9. (i)

      the information on the term of the contract referred to in Article 20(8)(h) of Directive (EU) 2016/97 shall be included under the heading "When does the cover start and end?";

    10. (j)

      the information on the means of terminating the contract referred to in Article 20(8)(i) of Directive (EU) 2016/97 shall be included under the heading "How do I cancel the contract?".

  2. (2)

    The use of sub-headings is permitted, where necessary.

Article 7 Use of icons

  1. (1)

    Each section shall further be headed by icons that visually represent the content of the respective section heading, as follows:

    1. (a)

      the information on the main risks insured referred to in Article 20(8)(b) of Directive (EU) 2016/97 shall be headed by an icon of an umbrella, which shall be white on a green background or green on a white background;

    2. (b)

      the information on the geographical scope of the insurance cover referred to in Article 20(8)(b) of Directive (EU) 2016/97 shall be headed by an icon of a globe, which shall be white on a blue background or blue on a white background;

    3. (c)

      the information on excluded risks referred to in Article 20(8)(b) of Directive (EU) 2016/97 shall be headed by an icon of an X symbol within a triangle, which shall be white on a red background or red on a white background;

    4. (d)

      the information on the main exclusions referred to in Article 20(8)(d) of Directive (EU) 2016/97 shall be headed by an exclamation mark ("!") within a triangle, which shall be white on an orange background or orange on a white background;

    5. (e)

      the information on the obligations at the start of the contract, during the term of the contract and in the event that a claim is made, referred to in points (e), (f) and (g) of 20(8) of Directive (EU) 2016/97, respectively, shall be headed by an icon of a handshake, which shall be white on a green background or green on a white background;

    6. (f)

      the information on the means and duration of payments referred to in Article 20(8)(c) of Directive (EU) 2016/97 shall be headed by an icon of coins, which shall be white on a yellow background or yellow on a white background;

    7. (g)

      the information on the term of the contract referred to in Article 20(8)(h) of Directive (EU) 2016/97 shall be headed by an icon of an hourglass, which shall be white on a blue background or blue on a white background;

    8. (h)

      the information on the means of terminating the contract referred to in Article 20(8)(i) of Directive (EU) 2016/97 shall be headed by an icon of a hand with an open palm on a shield, which shall be white on a black background, or black on a white background.

  2. (2)

    All icons shall be displayed in a manner consistent with the standardised presentation format in the Annex.

  3. (3)

    The icons referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 may be presented in black and white where the insurance product information document is printed or photocopied in black and white.

Article 8 Entry into force

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Signature

Done at Brussels, 11 August 2017.

For the Commission

The President

Jean-Claude JUNCKER