§ Sir Richard BodyTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what cost analysis has been undertaken on European Council document COM (97) 478 on the approximation of laws for defective products; and what domestic legislation this document will entail. [18477]
§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsAn initial consultation of farming interests by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) suggests that the main costs to agriculture producers will be those associated with insuring against potential product liability claims, and may be fairly low. MAFF will shortly be carrying out a full consultation on the likely costs to the industry.
If adopted, the proposed amendment to the 1985 Product Liability Directive would most likely be implemented in the United Kingdom by regulations under the European Communities Act 1972 amending Part I of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 (which implements the 1985 Directive). The 1985 Directive was implemented in Northern Ireland by the Consumer Protection (Northern Ireland) Order 1987.