asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will make a statement on the progress which has been made to remove technical barriers to international trade, for example in the area of merchandise marks.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - International Trade Barriers.
11.
The new round of multilateral trade negotiations which has just commenced, within the framework of GATT, will deal with all barriers to international trade. A special sub-group has been set up to deal with technical barriers to trade such as those arising in the areas of standards, packaging and labelling and marks of origin. This sub-group will have its first meeting next month.
The EEC, while having its own policy of eliminating internal barriers to trade, is prepared to subscribe to any international procedures which may be worked out in the multilateral negotiations to avoid or minimise the adverse effects which national laws could have on international trade. EEC policy in this matter is being evolved in the form of directives, about 200 in all, of which 160 deal with industrial products and about 40 cover foodstuffs. These directives are based on the principle of optional harmonisation and have effect by making it obligatory for each member country to admit goods which comply with the provisions of the directive. In other words, member states may if they wish insist on standards—applying equally to home-produced goods and imports from other Community countries—up to the level provided for by the directives, but not up to a higher level.
In addition, there are three general directives dealing, respectively with prepacked liquid goods, with pre-packed solid goods and with a harmonised range of sizes of packs. The liquids directive was adopted by Council on 19th December, 1974, with 18 months for implementation—and up to five years of a derogation granted to Ireland—and the solids directive is at an advanced stage in Council and is expected to be adopted shortly. The directive providing for a harmonised range of pack sizes is at an earlier stage of preparation by the Commission.
Progress with both product directives and the general directives tends to be slow but these matters are of considerable complexity. Under the Council programme for work on removal of technical barriers to trade for the period ending 1st January, 1978, the objective is, however, to complete a very large number of them, including the two remaining general ones, well within that period.
Ireland is also a member of OECD which has undertaken a number of studies in the field of consumer policy. Recommendations, which are not binding, are made with a view to the elimination of abuses and progress reports are called for periodically. These findings are also taken into account in the formulation of EEC policy.
I knew more about it before I asked the question. Now I am confused.