The European Commission has presented a proposal to abolish directives 15/106/CEE and 80/232/CEE, which concern the mandatory sizes of containers as well as the quantities they can hold. The regulatio…
The European Commission has presented a proposal to abolish directives 15/106/CEE and 80/232/CEE, which concern the mandatory sizes of containers as well as the quantities they can hold. The regulations were passed in the 1970s as a way of harmonizing sizes in the then European Community of nine, and make the free movement of goods easier. Each country had its own size rules, which slowed down the introduction of products that did not fit with these sizes. The new directive advocates deregulation in the conviction that it is the best option for guaranteeing freedom of competition and consumer choice without endangering EU objectives for the environment. In addition, member states will not be able to take advantage of the abolition in order to impose national regulations on packaging size or capacity. In principal, the new directive will apply to containers and materials of all kinds, although mandatory sizes will remain in force for those sectors in which there is a mandatory regulation or for those in which the Commission has committed itself to re-establishing previously mandatory sizes. These are wine (for sizes below 1.5 liters), coffee (from 50 to 300 grammes), sugar (from 250 grammes to 1.5 Kg), and aerosols (when these contain products other than perfumed water, hair lotions, shaving lotions and medicines). Member states have 18 months, until May 2006, in which to apply the rules.