Brussels, 07/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - More than 10 years after the launch of the "New Approach" to product regulation in the EU, the European Commission decided (on Monday) to launch an online stakeholder consultation as part of a broader effort to overhaul, update and upgrade the New Approach, which aims to enhance the safety and performance of industrial products while at the same time ensuring their free circulation within the single market.
The "New Approach" operates by laying down only essential requirements concerning safety and/or environmental performance, leaving it up to entrepreneurs to choose the appropriate technical solution to meet the requirements. The solutions very often lead to the development of European standards. The consultation will end on 31 March 2002. The review aims to clarify Europe's regulatory principles for product safety and ensure they are applied more consistently across the EU, for example by proposing to step up cross-border administrative co-operation. Replies to the consultation will help to share a Commission Communication setting out proposals for improvements tot he existing system. The key aspects up for review are Member State designation of bodies to check that products conform to regulations, market surveillance, CE marking and its relationship with other marks.
The Commission feels that open dialogue between all the stakeholders helps ensure that rules and regulatory proposals keep pace with rapid change and "this dialogue helps to achieve the regulatory efficiency we need to foster economic dynamism, enhance social security and maintain a healthy environment". The Consultation Document and interactive questionnaire are available on: europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/consultations/index.htm.