Press Release: Setting packaging free: Commission welcomes Council agreement to simplify EU legislation

The Competitiveness Council has 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 The Commission has already withdrawn 68 pending proposals, introduced impact assessments for all new and important proposals, tabled proposals to simplify EU laws and has been working on a model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.