Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 12 May 1999

Vol. 504 No. 5

Written Answers. - Consumer Protection.

David Stanton

Ceist:

101 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will report on the way in which the enhanced protection for the consumer contained in the Amsterdam Treaty has been translated into an action programme which will benefit consumers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12456/99]

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

The Deputy will recall that I referred in a reply to a previous question to my intention to hold a conference on consumer policy and the Amsterdam Treaty in Dublin in October 1998. I have recently issued a report on the proceedings of the conference, copies of which have been lodged in the Library of the Oireachtas.

The Consumer Policy Action Plan, 1999-2001, contains details of the Commission's plans in the consumer area for the next three years, under the following headings: a more powerful voice for the consumer throughout the EU; a high level of health and safety for EU consumers; and full respect for the economic interests of EU consumers.

A resolution adopted by the Consumer Affairs Council on 13 April 1999 calls upon the Commission to implement the action plan and to have regard for consistency of, and complementarity between, the different Community activities. The resolution also calls upon the Commission to put a specific emphasis on the health and safety of consumers and to protect their economic interests; to ensure a more powerful voice for the consumer; and to ensure that consumer protection requirements are fully understood and taken into account in devising and implementing other Community policies.

The resolution calls on the Commission and the member states to further develop their dialogue on consumer policy with the aim of enhancing the effectiveness of consumer policy measures and to continue improving the development and enforcement of Community legislation.

The resolution calls upon the member states,inter alia, to ensure at national level that consumer protection requirements are taken into account in other relevant policies; and to strengthen, by appropriate means, national consumer organisations. This accords closely with my own thinking, as Minister of State with responsibility for consumer affairs, on the way forward for consumer protection in Ireland.

David Stanton

Ceist:

102 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will report on the work under way in her Department on the transposition into national law of EU directives pertaining to consumer protection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12457/99]

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

Eight EU directives pertaining to consumer protection are currently awaiting transposition into national law. The following table details these directives and their status vis-à-vis implementation.

Directive/Subject Matter	Final Date for Implementation	Proposed Means of Implementation	Status re. Transposition
Directive 97/4/EC Quantitative ingredient listing (amends Principal Food Labelling Directive 79/112/EEC)Directive 1999/10/EC providing derogations from the quantitative ingredient listing directive 97/4/EC.	Directive 97/4/EC does not include a specific date by which it must be implemented into national law but trade in conforming products was required to be permitted by August 1998. Trade in non-conforming products must be prohibited no later than 14th February, 2000.	By regulations under the European Communities Act, 1972.It is intended that directives 94/4/EC and 99/10/EC will be implemented together.	Work on the draft regulations is at an advanced stage.
Directive/Subject Matter	Final Date for Implementation	Proposed Means of Implementation	Status re. Transposition
Directive 98/6/EC Indication of the prices of products offered to consumers (Unit Pricing)	18 March 2000	By regulations under the European Communities Act, 1972	Implementation process to commence in Autumn, 1999
Directive 98/7/EC Methods by which annual percentage rates (APR) shall be calculated (amends Directive 87/102/EEC on Consumer Credit)	1 April 2000	By amendment to the Consumer Credit Act, 1995. The Act is currently being reviewed and it is intended that a Bill to amend the Act will include provisions to transpose the directive.	Review of Consumer Credit Act, 1995 currently under way.
Directive 97/55/EC Comparative advertising (amends Directive 84/450/EEC on Misleading Advertising)	23 April 2000	By regulations under the European Communities Act, 1972	Drafting of the regulations under way.
Directive 97/7/EC Protection of consumers in respect of distance contracts (Distance Selling)	4 June 2000	By regulations under the European Communities Act, 1972	Implementation process to commence by end 1999
Directive 98/27/EC Injunction for the protection of consumers' interests	End December 2000	By regulations under the European Communities Act, 1972	Implementation process to commence in Autumn 1999
Directive on the liability for defective products (product liability) amends Directive (85/374/EEC)	One year after publication in Official Journal of the European Communities [adopted 29 April 1999 but not yet published in OJ]	For decision	Implementation process to commence in early 2000