Annexes to COM(2014)25 - Vision for the internal market for industrial products - Main contents
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This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | COM(2014)25 - Vision for the internal market for industrial products. |
|---|---|
| document | COM(2014)25  |
| date | January 22, 2014 |
In an increasingly low-tariff global environment, regulatory or “behind the border” barriers are responsible for relatively higher administrative and substantive compliance costs for industry. The EU should upgrade its strategic dialogues with key third countries as a means of building mutual trust and improving the predictability of regulatory developments. This is an essential tool for industry to plan ahead.
The EU is already negotiating free trade agreements with important industrialised countries. These negotiations open up opportunities to reduce regulatory obstacles between key trading partners while ensuring a high level of protection of public interests. They contribute to a broader reflection about common, global rules on products. For the EU this means greater access to key emerging markets where there is high economic growth and demand.
A transatlantic trade agreement that eliminates traditional trade barriers to products and services would be a major step towards such global rules. It could reduce regulatory compliance costs for companies across the economy. Adopting common transatlantic regulations for new technologies could save millions and help define open global standards and regulations for the industries of the future.
The EU should continue to promote international convergence in legislation and technical standards for industrial products while ensuring a high level of protection of public interests. The Commission should ensure a stronger focus on the impact of EU regulation on the international competitiveness of EU business.
6. Conclusion
Despite its stage of development and advanced integration, the internal market for products needs to continue evolving in order to keep up with the pace of technological and societal challenges of the 21 century. However, this needs to be balanced with the request of industrial stakeholders for periods of regulatory stability without major overhaul of the rules. Therefore, in the short term, the Commission will focus its efforts on the consolidation of legislation and the strengthening of enforcement mechanisms without furthering burdening the industry. The Commission will work on a proposal consisting of a harmonised approach to economic sanctions and a common framework for the marketing of industrial products based on Decision 768/2008/EC.
[1] COM (2012) 582 final “A Stronger European Industry for Growth and Economic Recovery - Industrial Policy Communication Update”.
[2] Directive 98/34/EC sets up a procedure which imposes an obligation upon Member States to notify to the Commission and to each other all the draft technical regulations concerning products and soon Information Society Services before they are adopted in national law.
[3] The notion of 'industrial products' should not be seen in opposition to 'consumer products'. Whereas the former definition is based on the production process, the latter is based on the end-use. Many industrial products are therefore also consumer products, although not all (some are for professional use only).
[4] An indicative list of Union harmonisation acts is available at: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/single-market-goods/documents/internal-market-for-products/new-legislative-framework/index_en.htm#h2-2
[5] OJ L 157/24 of 9.6.2006.
[6] COM(2013) 561 final.
[7] Directive 2013/29/EU on pyrotechnic articles has been already adopted and the legislator has also reached an agreement on the Recreational crafts directive. The proposals on radio equipment, electromagnetic compatibility, low voltage products, lifts, equipment used in explosive atmospheres (ATEX), civil explosives, measuring instruments, non-automatic measuring instruments, simple pressure vessels, pressure equipment, personal protective equipment, cableways, and gas appliances are still pending.
[8] OJ L 88/5 of 4.4.2011.
[9] OJ L 316/12 of 14.11.2012.
[10] Regulation (EC) No 764/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 July 2008 laying down procedures relating to the application of certain national technical rules to products lawfully marketed in another Member State and repealing Decision No 3052/95/EC.
[11] Council Conclusions on Single Market Policy (16443/13).
[12] COM(2012) 584 final.
[13] http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/single-market-goods/documents/internal-market-for-products/new-legislative-framework/index_en.htm#h2-3
[14] Rapid Alert System for non-food dangerous products. More information on RAPEX is available at: http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/safety/rapex/index_en.htm
[15] Information and Communication System on Market Surveillance. More information on ICSMS is available at: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/single-market-goods/internal-market-for-products/icsms/index_en.htm
[16] http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/single-market-goods/internal-market-for-products/market-surveillance/index_en.htm#h2-1
[17] L 218/30 of 13.8.2008.
[18] Find out more about the Internal Market Information System here: http://ec.europa.eu/imi-net
[19] OJ L 218/21 of 13.8.2008.
[20] An analysis of the effects of a legislative proposal on SMEs. More information is available at: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/small-business-act/sme-test/
[21] The High Level group on Business Services proposed in the Commission Communication "Towards a Single Market Act" (COM (2010) 608) discusses the complementarity between products and services. Their final report is expected in Spring 2014.
[22] European Competitiveness Report 2013.