Press Release: Commission Vice-President Verheugen welcomes Parliament vote on prepacked goods deregulation

The European Commission welcomes the agreement of the European Parliament to simplify EU legislation on prepacked products. The directive allows free sizes for all prepacked products, except for wines and spirits, for which mandatory EU sizes already exist. This would mean the replacement of 27 different national rules and two EU directives on nominal quantities by one single EU directive. It also reflects jurisprudence by the European Court of Justice, which has gradually led to liberalisation of pack sizes. This is another step to deliver on the Commission’s work programme to simplify EU legislation under the Better Regulation initiative. The Competitiveness Council will vote on the agreement in its meeting of 21-22 May 2007.