Brussels, 19/02/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission decided to continue the infringement proceedings initiated against eleven Member States (France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, United Kingdom, Ireland, Greece, Spain, Portugal and Finland), which, despite a first letter of formal notice, still have not informed it of their national provisions meant to transpose into internal law the Directive concerning the marketing of biocide products (Directive 98/8/EC). These Member States will receive a motivated opinion (second stage of the procedure under Treaty Article 226) for not having answered the letter of formal notice that the Commission sent them on 8 August 2000 to ask them to fulfil their obligations in the following two months (France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands, Ireland, Greece and Portugal), for having announced the preparatory works in view of adopting the said measures without the notification of these legislative drafts having occurred (Germany, United Kingdom, Spain) or for not having adopted additional measures required to remedy to failings noted in the duly notified legislative texts (Finland still has not adopted the legislation applicable to the Aland province).
Directive 98/8/EC imposes on Member States the establishment of an authorisation system for biocide products (products used to fight against organisms dangerous for human or animal health or organisms that damage natural or manufactured products, such as wood protection products, disinfectants and insecticides), similar to that required for phytopharmaceutical products used in agriculture (Directive 91/414/EEC). The deadline set for the Member States to transpose this Directive into internal law being 14 May 2000 at the latest.
"Member States must make more efforts to implement Community environmental directives in time", stated Margot Wallström, Environment Commissioner, when commenting, in a press release, over the Commission decision to pursue the Member States which have not fulfilled their obligation. If these countries should persist in their infringement, the Commission will be in its right to refer them before the Court of Justice.