[autom.vertaling] Plaatsende vrije verpakking: De Commissie stemt in met de overeenkomst van de Raad om EU-wetgeving te vereenvoudigen (en) - Hoofdinhoud
The Competitiveness Council has today reached political agreement to simplify legislation in the area of packaged goods. The agreement, if confirmed by the European Parliament, will mean free sizes for pre-packed products except for wines and spirits, for which the current existing fixed sizes have been streamlined. This would mean the replacement of 25 different national rules and two EU directives on nominal quantities by one single EU directive. This is another step to deliver on the Commission's work programme to simplify EU legislation under the Better Regulation initiative. The Commission has already withdrawn 68 pending proposals, introduced impact assessments for all new and important proposals, tabled proposals to simplify EU laws and has been working on a model to reduce administrative costs coming from EU legislation.
Commission Vice-President Günter Verheugen, responsible for enterprise and industry policy, said: “I am delighted that the Council has reached political agreement on a piece of legislation which has become a symbol of the Better Regulation initiative. The process has shown that simplification is often complicated, but with political will from member states we can make important progress. This proposal is a small but necessary step to change the image of the EU as an over-regulating busy-body. It sends a clear and positive signal that the European Union is serious about cutting red tape."
The Council has reached a common position, on the amended proposal of the Commission which ensures free sizes for pre-packed products. This compromise removes all permanent derogations for pre-packed products except for wines and spirits. This is a technical dossier but it is part of a major policy initiative to ensure that the European Union regulatory environment is simple and of high quality. It guarantees a level playing field and the widest consumer choice. Consumer protection remains fully assured by labelling, unit pricing and rules on unfair practices.
Background
The current directives originate from the 1970s when Member States created barriers to trade based on pack sizes. It was agreed that certain sizes would be a "passport" to trade within the EU. This is the origin of the 70 ranges of sizes per product group currently contained in the directives. Next to these sizes Member States maintained their own sizes. The jurisprudence of Cassis de Dijon took away the basis of limiting imports based on size. The Cidre-Ruwet judgement in 1999 reconfirmed this when it forbade Member States to make the range of EU sizes for cider the only ones allowed on its market and since then all Member States have allowed imports that are legally marketed in a Member State to pass the frontiers unhindered.