Brussels, 21/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - The European label in the shape of a wheel must be displayed on all marine equipment present on vessels flying the European flag in order to show that EU standards are being met.
This is a key provision of the informal agreement reached in trialogue on the revision of Directive 96/98/EC on marine equipment. It was confirmed by the European ambassadors on 19 February.
This agreement was one of the priorities of the Greek Presidency of the Council of the EU. “It will improve maritime safety and the protection of the marine environment”, said the Greek minister for maritime affairs, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis.
The agreement stipulates that this wheel-shaped label can be electronic, in order to facilitate market surveillance and help combat counterfeiting more effectively. In addition, work will continue on standards, in cooperation with the International Maritime Organisation. These standards will be available free of charge, or at a nominal fee.
Lastly, manufacturers, distributors and surveillance authorities will have to communicate optimally in order to ensure the compliance of the equipment, particularly by selecting the most appropriate language regime. The member states have two years to comply with the revised directive. (MD/transl.fl)