Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-03-29-Speech-3-035"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20000329.5.3-035"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:spoken text |
"Madam President, there were two issues within my area of competence dealt with in the Commission this morning and I have the pleasure and the honour to report to Parliament on both of these issues.
To conclude, I will say that consumers should be confident that products on the market are regulated in a consistent manner, that dangerous products are monitored in an appropriate way and that information is provided. I believe that this draft directive can effectively contribute to our common goal of ensuring a high level of consumer health and safety and I look forward to more detailed discussions with Members of Parliament in future on this issue.
The first one as you mentioned, relates to the proposals on the amendment of the directive on general product safety. I am very pleased to be able to present to you the draft revision of the directive on general product safety which the Commission has approved today. The idea behind the directive is in fact quite simple. Only safe food or industrial products are to be placed on the market, and this means European products as well as imported products.
The two key objectives of the general product safety directive are, firstly, to ensure a high and consistent level of protection for consumer health and safety throughout Europe and, secondly, to ensure the proper functioning of the internal market. We have undertaken an extensive stocktaking exercise on the implementation of the present directive. The report on the main findings will be circulated in parallel to the draft revision of the directive.
While the general approach of the directive is sound, experience has revealed certain weaknesses which we are now trying to correct. We first wish to clarify the scope of the directive. This directive is meant to provide consistent assurances of the safety of products for consumers. It is also meant to fill possible gaps in sectoral legislation, for instance market surveillance or emergency procedures, which are rarely foreseen in specific pieces of legislation. However, it does not apply where a specific sector of legislation covers the same aspects under consideration.
We want to make sure that the directive gives the best coverage possible to products used by consumers. This also means products which have migrated from the professional field to personal use, for instance laser pointers, and secondly products which are used to provide a service. Two examples of that would be hair-dryers in a hair salon or equipment in a gym centre. We want to have a more efficient system. This implies, therefore, additional obligations for producers and distributors to provide information. This is probably the most important element in this amended set of provisions.
The present situation is in fact far from ideal. It is quite extraordinary that, for example, the authorities of a Member State were informed by the United States of a particular product that was dangerous because the provisions that prevail in the European Union do not provide for this. This notification is compulsory in the United States but not so far in the European Union. This particular provision is designed to rectify that situation.
I also want a reinforcement of the market surveillance by Member States. As you know, there is no good law if it is not applied properly. Member States now will be required to strengthen the tasks of the surveillance authorities. They will be required to establish sanctions; they will have to develop links with other Member States as well, in particular through a network of enforcement authorities of the Member States. This is also extremely important from an industry point of view in order to make sure that a level playing field is maintained between competitors, especially in relation to imported goods.
We also want to improve the rapid alert system, a system which is operated by the Commission to monitor the information on dangerous products and measures taken. The scope of Rapex, as it is called, is extended to cover voluntary measures taken by industry to withdraw a product. The practical operation of the system will be improved. We now also foresee the possibility of opening the system to third countries, in particular candidate countries. We also intend to introduce provisions to simplify the procedures for emergency measures at Community level, so that we can take rapid action with the advice of a regulatory committee. I will mention here that we have now introduced an export ban for products withdrawn at Community level.
Another point to which I wish to draw your attention is improved transparency. Consumers often lack confidence because they do not know what is happening. We believe that in line with the general policy of the Commission, citizens have the right to know which real dangers they are exposed to and the measures taken. The limitations to this is, of course, professional secrecy, as defined in Article 287 of the Treaty, but that of course is except when there are overriding public health considerations."@en1
|
| lpv:unclassifiedMetadata |
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples