Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jun 1998

Vol. 493 No. 3

Written Answers. - EU Directives.

David Stanton

Question:

117 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress, if any, made in her Department to transpose into national law EU Directives 97/4/EC, 97/7/EC and 96/74/EC; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16266/98]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. T. Kitt)

Directive 96/74/EC on Textile Names is a consolidating directive, which did not introduce any substantial new provisions or amendments. The Attorney General's office was consulted. Given that the four directives which Directive 96/74/EC consolidated and repealed had already been incorporated into Irish domestic legislation, by virtue of the European Communities (Names and Labelling of Textile Products) Regulations, 1973, as amended, no further legislative changes were deemed necessary.

Regulations to give effect to Commission Directive 97/37/EC on Textile Names, which made minor and technical amendments to Directive 96/74/EC, are being finalised. As well as implementing Directive 97/37/EC, the regulations will consolidate, update and replace the existing regulations on textile names.

Directive 97/4/EC amends the principal Food Labelling Directive (79/112/EEC). Under the terms of the directive, member states must allow trade in conforming products no later than 14 August 1998 and prohibit trade in non-conforming products no later than 14 February 2000. The directive is complex and the Commission and representatives of the member states are currently in the process of drawing up informal guidelines for the implementation of certain of the principles contained in the directive. Work on the implementation of the directive is under way in parallel with the preparation of the draft guidelines.

Directive 97/7/EC on the protection of consumers in respect of distance contracts is due for transposition into national law by June 2000. Because of the wide scope of the directive and the complexity of its application, it will be necessary to undertake a thorough consultation process with interested parties. It is anticipated that this process will begin later this year and I am confident that the necessary legislation will be in place by the required date.