The last item on the agenda is Statutory Instruments made under the European Communities Act, 1972. In paragraph 4 the reference to the European Communities (Companies) Regulations, 1973 went in by mistake. We submitted a report on that item. In this report we are dealing with an instrument implementing a Directive on Proprietary Medicinal Products and also with the European Communities (Wine) Regulations, 1974. We are critical of both, in fact.
Statutory Instruments made under the European Communities Act, 1972.
Chairman
Would the Chairman explain that?
Chairman
The European Communities Proprietary Medicinal Products Regulations, 1974 contain a new provision which is necessitated by a Council Directive. In effect, it means that anybody wishing to place a new medicinal product on the Irish market must get authority to do so. It is necessary to apply to the Department of Health, and get an authorisation or a licence to place it on the Irish market. The wine regulation has not a great public impact; it really will be more applicable to wine merchants, importers and wholesalers. It deals with the documentation which they must submit. It also provides for the appointment of inspectors. The Department have informed us that so far it has only involved the appointment of one junior civil servant as an authorised officer. We were concerned because we thought that this work could be done by the Revenue Commissioners without extra cost but, we have been assured that, for various technical reasons, it could not. Our worries were not of great significance because only one junior civil servant has been appointed as an authorised officer.
Paragraphs 1 to 4, inclusive, agreed to.
Draft report agreed to.
Ordered: To report accordingly.
Chairman
I am very grateful to members for their kind attention and the expeditious manner in which they have dealt with these reports.
The Joint Committee adjourned at 6.10 p.m.