HC Deb 17 June 1992 vol 209 c550W

Commission Directive 91/410/EEC of 22 July 1991 adopting to technical progress for the fourteenth time Council Directive 67/548/EEC relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances. Official Journal Reference L228 of 17 August 1991. Commission Directive 91/442/EEC of 23 July 1991 on dangerous preparations, the packaging of which must be fitted with child resistant fastenings. Official Journal Reference L238 of 27 August 1991. Commission Directive 92/8/EEC of 18 February 1992 adapting to technical progress Council Directive 76/768/ EEC relating to cosmetic products. Official Journal Reference L70 of 17 March 1992.

Mr. Steen

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the draft directives issued by DGXXIII of the European Commission in the past 12 months; what estimate he has made of the number of companies each directive will affect; and at what cost.

Mr. Needham

DG XXIII of the European Commission has issued three draft directives in the past 12 months. They are:

  1. (i) Proposal for a Council Directive supplementing the Statute for a European association with regard to the involvement of employees.
  2. (ii) Proposal for a Council Directive supplementing the Statute for a European cooperative society with regard to the involvement of employees.
  3. (iii) Proposal for a Council Directive supplementing the Statute for a European mutual society with regard to the involvement of employees.

No estimate has yet been made of the number of organisations likely to be affected by the directives, or the potential costs. A public consultation exercise is to be undertaken shortly which aims to assess the possible effect of the directives.