asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will outline the Government's view on the proposed EC Directive on product safety; when this directive is likely to come into operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - EC Directive on Product Safety.
31.
This Government welcome the proposed product safety directive which will reinforce consumer protection policy and place an obligation on manufacturers, importers and retailers in member states to adopt effective product safety procedures. This policy should bring about a number of significant improvements on the present position in that it will strengthen consumer protection policy and enhance the safety of the citizens of member states; it will help to reinforce the principle of mutual recognition, as it will contribute to strengthen member states' confidence in each other's surveillance, control and test procedures; it will speed up the process of establishing appropriate certification bodies in member states which do not already have them; and finally, it will bring about a clearer notion of what may constitute "appropriate measures", in the event of hazards, to be taken by member states under various vertical directives, and it should have a harmonising effect in this respect.
Discussions on the proposed directive are continuing at expert level. Therefore, I am not in a position at the moment to say when the directive will be adopted and come into operation.