WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1063/99 by Marie-Paule KESTELIJN- SIERENS Extension of the transitional period laid down in Directive 80/181/EEC as regards labelling in various units of measurement
Date: 1999-04-12
Institutions: European Parliament, KESTELIJN-SIERENS
Subjects: EC Directive, application of EU law, approximation of laws, codecision procedure, labelling, marketing standard, weights and measures

21.12.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 370/159

Mr Hendrick and Mrs Randzio-Plath, O-31/99 by Mr Gasòliba i Böh, O-32/99 by Mr de Lassus Saint
Geniés, O-33/99 by Mr Wolf, and O-34/99 by Mr Gallagher during question time at Parliament’s March
part-session (4).

IP/99/90.

(1)
(2) OJ C 348, 3.12.1999, p. 3.
(3) OJ C 325, 12.11.1999.
(4) Debates of Parliament (March 1999).

(1999/C 370/225)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1063/99

by Marie-Paule Kestelijn-Sierens (ELDR) to the Commission

(12 April 1999)

Subject: Extension of the transitional period laid down in Directive 80/181/EEC as regards labelling in

various units of measurement

Pursuant to Directive 80/181/EEC (1), measurements in the EU may be expressed only in metric units from
the end of 1999. In February 1999, the Commission approved a proposal for extending the transitional
period laid down in Directive 80/181/EEC until the end of 2009.

This welcome though late decision by the Commission is raising a good many questions in the sectors
concerned, which fear that the procedure for definitively adopting the proposal will not be completed
before the end of 1999. With just a few months to go, they still do not know whether entry into force of
the provisions of Directive 80/181/EEC is to be postponed or not.

Will the Commission explain what will happen if the current proposal for amending the Directive is not
definitively adopted by the end of 1999? Will the present Directive’s provisions enter into force, or can the
Commission do something to suspend their entry into force?

(1) OJ L 39, 15.2.1980, p. 40.

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(3 May 1999)

The Commission adopted on 4 February 1999 its proposal (1) to amend Council Directive 80/181/EEC of
20 December 1979 on the approximation of
the Member States relating to units of
measurement and on the repeal of Directive 71/354/EEC, which was forthwith transmitted to the
Parliament and Council. In accordance with Article 95 of the EC Treaty (ex Article 100 a) there is no
alternative method of changing the provisions of an existing Council directive except through the relevant
procedure, in this case the co-decision procedure.

the laws of

Recognising the importance of the adoption of this amendment in due time for the market operators and
sharing the concerns of the Honourable Member, the Commission would therefore urge the Parliament
and Council to move swiftly so that the adoption of the amendment can take place before the end of
1999.

However, in case it would appear that the amendment could not be adopted in due time, the Commission
with the Member States will consider, depending on the progress of the proposal at the time, appropriate
action to overcome any possible incoherence until the final adoption.

(1) COM(99) 40 final.