The UK's Distance Selling Regulations. The Distance Selling Regulations were passed to protect consumers when they shop online or enter into other contracts at a distance from the supplier. The rationale for giving consumers special protection in such deals is that the consumer does not have the benefit of meeting face-to-face with the supplier and inspecting the goods or services offered for sale. Properly called the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000, the Regulations do not apply to contracts between businesses. They have been in force across the UK since 31st October 2000 and they implement a 1997 EU Directive on the protection of consumers in respect of distance contracts. (Note that the above link to the Regulations does not reflect amendments passed in 2005 that addressed a practical problem faced by service providers in getting written information to customers.