Press Release: European Commission gives new boost to trade of goods within the EU

The European Commission has proposed a broad package of measures to assure a smoother functioning of the internal market for goods. This will make it easier for companies, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises, to market products in the European Union while assuring a high level of safety and quality. For industrial goods which are already subject of EU legislation it is suggested to establish a system of market surveillance which is built upon the existing system for consumer products. Furthermore cooperation between national accreditation bodies should be re-enforced and new rules to enhance confidence and trust in the CE mark are proposed. A common legal framework, build on simple common definitions and procedures for the marketing of industrial products, will serve as a toolbox for future sectoral legislation. These measures will have an impact on 22 industrial sectors, representing a market volume of around 1500 billion euros a year. Improvements are proposed for the trade with goods which do not fall under EU legislation which accounts for around a quarter of EU intra manufacturing trade. At present many companies are discouraged from venturing outside their domestic market because they have to prove that their products fulfil the requirements of technical rules in other Member States. It is now suggested that public authorities will have to justify to companies, why a product which was lawfully marketed in another Member State, cannot be sold on their national market. In addition, it is proposed to create local product points which will provide information to businesses about additional requirements outside their home market.

European Commission: DG Communication: MEMO/07/54 http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/07/54&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

European Commission: DG Communication: SPEECH/07/78 http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/07/78&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

---