On 14 March 2018, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union adopted Directive 2018/411 postponing the application of the Insurance Distribution Directive ('IDD') to 1 October 2018.

On 14 March 2018, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union adopted Directive 2018/411 postponing the application of the Insurance Distribution Directive ('IDD') to 1 October 2018. Directive 2018/411 also extends to 1 July 2018 the deadline for member states to transpose the IDD into national laws.

The European Parliament held that the postponement from 23 February 2018 to 1 October 2018 for the coming into force of the IDD is to give insurance undertakings and insurance distributors more time to better prepare for a correct an effective implementation of the IDD. Directive 2018/411 also notes that a delay was required to ensure legal certainty and to avoid potential market disruptions.

Directive 2018/411 shall apply with retroactive effect from 23 February 2018