SPAIN’S Council of Ministers has passed a law banning the practice of cold-calling and aggressive sales tactics.

This new legislation encompasses the 2006 EU directive outlawing misleading or comparative advertising.

It is designed to offer greater consumer protection and promote healthy competition.

They say forceful selling, over-persuasive tactics and persistence, bribery, undue influence and ‘painting the lily’ in order to sell a product leave many consumers feeling they have no choice.

When customers are pestered into purchasing, their free choice is eliminated, which goes against competition laws, says the central government.

The new law was created by the ministries of the economy, tourism and commerce, health and social policy, justice, and tax and industry.