On April 18, 2019, Law No. 31/2019 containing provisions on class actions (better known as “class action”) was published in the Official Gazette.

The law will enter into force 12 months after its publication and will apply to unlawful conduct subsequent to its entry into force.

Compared to the class action currently in force, the law 31/2019:

•  it recognizes the right to class action not only to non-profit organizations or associations, but also to individuals who fall into a “class” or category of persons harmed by the unlawful conduct of companies or managers of public services or public utilities;
• it recognizes the right to act for the protection of homogeneous individual rights, not necessarily related to consumers’ rights.

The provisions of Law no. 31/2019 will be incorporated into the Code of Civil Procedure.