Memo: Package on Internal Market for goods

Part I: New approach: Better Regulation to give fresh impetus to the internal market for goods.

European product legislation was revolutionised by the 'New Approach'; introduced in 1985, this New Approach has become a role model for Better Regulation. The Legislation sets out the levels of protection that must be achieved and does not prejudge the choice of technical solution to achieve the levels.

Part II: Market access for products: Making it easier to sell in another Member State.

In theory, Member States can only refuse products coming from another Member State in exceptional cases. But the reality is often different: many companies still face technical barriers, because Member States require goods coming from other Member States to be adapted to their national technical rules on designation, form, size, weight, composition, presentation, labelling and packaging. This leads to substantial obstacles to the free movement of goods and requires extra administrative controls and tests.