Protection of Consumers/Goods: Mutual Recognition of Goods
The Council agreed on a general approach regarding a draft regulation aimed at improving the mutual recognition of goods marketed in another member state. The regulation seeks to ensure that goods lawfully marketed in one member state can be sold in any other, as long as they are safe and respect the interests of the public. The EU deems that this approach is necessary on the ground that the existing legislative framework does not ensure a reliable application of the principle of mutual recognition, since the market access to goods which are considered safe and aligned with the interests of the public in one member state, may be denied or restricted in another. Due to this, businesses face unwarranted costs and delays since they then have to adapt their goods to the various requirements of national markets. A wide range of consumer goods including textiles, footwear, jewelry, and furniture are not subject to the EU harmonization legislation which sets out common requirements on how products have to be manufactured, or are only partially covered by it. However, the new regulation will apply to all these goods. Currently, regarding the goods that are only partially covered by EU common rules or in which there are no EU common rules, member states are able to implement their own requirements that need to be met by those goods. Requirements may refer to anything from weight to packaging.
