§ Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from the bicycle manufacturing industry concerning recent EEC directives; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ForthRepresentation has been made by the cycle industry about European standard EN 71 (in the United Kingdom BS 5665) and the implications for certain children's cycles of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 1989 which implement the toy safety directive. There is concern that the tests specified in the standard may not meet the essential safety requirements of the regulations in respect of a range of children's cycles. We are considering this as a matter of urgency. If any harmonised standard does not meet the essential safety requirements the Government can refer the matter to the standing committee set up under directive 83/189 for reconsideration. However, the industry has been advised that when a harmonised standard is not appropriate to a particular product, it is open to the manufacturers to submit a model of the product to an approved body for an EC type examination. The test body is concerned to establish that the model submitted for approval meets the essential safety requirements and in so doing may, if the harmonised standard is inappropriate, have regard to other appropriate tests.