HC Deb 11 January 1995 vol 252 cc159-60W
Mr. Hawksley

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make statement about the outcome of the meeting of the Internal Market Council held in Brussels on 8 December 1994.

Mr. Ian Taylor

I attended the Internal Market Council in Brussels on 8 December.

The Council adopted a directive amending for the thirteenth time directive 76/79/EEC on the marketing and use of dangerous substances. Germany, Denmark and Netherlands voted against.

In the Internal Market Council, an agreement was reached as "A" point on a directive on food additives other than colours and sweeteners and a common position on a proposed directive on the burning behaviour of material used in interior construction of certain categories of motor vehicles.

The Council debated the functioning of the Single Market; the take up of single market rules by central and eastern European countries; deregulation; the information society; ratification of the community patent agreement; measuring instruments; and the local dimension of the single market. The Council also discussed proposals for a system of notification of national measures derogating from the principle of free circulation of goods; transparency and efficiency of cross border payments; fees for European Medicines Evaluation Agency; and new foods and food ingredients.

The next meeting of the Council is planned for 6 June 1995.