Strasbourg, 16/11/2000 (Agence Europe) - With the adoption of the report by Laura Gonzalez Alvarez (GUE, Spain), the European Parliament amended at first reading (codecision procedure) the draft directive concerning general product safety. In addition to certain drafting improvements, the amendments mainly aim to establish a European network between the national authorities responsible for surveillance of the consumer products market. The European Commission proposal was only in the aim of supporting the establishment of such a network. The Parliament also requests that second-hand goods, mainly those sold by charity organisations or by individuals on flea markets, should be exempt from the provisions of the directive. It insists that the labelling should be clear in the language of the Member State where the market is held.
During the debate, Commissioner David Byrne recalled that the main idea behind this proposal is to ensure that only safe products are put on the market. He pointed out that the Commission may accept many amendments that improve the text but not the creation of a specific regime for certain types of sales or the obligation to create a European network within a time limit of one year after the directive has been transposed into national law.