asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries when he received a copy of the proposed EEC directive on the harmonisation of technical standards for fertiliser production; if this proposal would involve any changes in Irish law and practice; and when he intends to present his comments thereon.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fertiliser Production Standards.
19.
If the EEC Council of Ministers should adopt this directive in its present form, a copy of which was received in my Department on 28th January, its implementation would involve certain changes here and we are seeking consultation with the Community on it.
Could the Minister indicate the nature of the changes which would be involved in our law?
They are of a very technical and complicated nature and I do not think I could readily go into them to any satisfactory extent here.
Could the Minister indicate the area in which they would take effect?
There is the question of the classification of fertilisers, the definition of their chemical composition, the regulations requiring the labelling of containers, the fixing of tolerances for inaccuracies and that type of thing.
Is it proposed that the Minister's Department will make representations to the Commission in regard to this proposed directive, particularly in regard to those aspects of the change in our law which we would not favour?
Yes, we do contemplate taking this whole matter up with the Commission.
May I ask the Minister the date on which the draft directive was submitted to the Council of Ministers by the Commission and the date on which the directive was adopted by the Council of Ministers?
I have not got the reply to that question which is quite different.
May I explain that I asked the question because the Minister says he only got a copy of this directive on the 28th January. The process of legislation in the Community is one that takes a good deal of time because of the consultations involved and it seems astonishing to me that he would not have got details of a draft directive that went to the Council of Ministers.
A preliminary draft was received on the 24th November last.
Did the Minister make representations to have any changes made in it before adoption?
The whole question is being examined at present.
The Minister waited until legislation went through before making representations. I have established that interesting fact.