31988H0041

88/41/EEC: Commission Recommendation of 10 December 1987 on the involvement and improvement of consumer participation in standardization

Official Journal L 023 , 28/01/1988 P. 0026 - 0026

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COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION

of 10 December 1987

on the involvement and improvement of consumer participation in standardization

(88/41/EEC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,

Whereas one of the aims of the Community is the improvement of the living conditions of its citizens including the protection of health, safety and consumer interests;

Whereas the Council Resolution of 14 April 1975 on a preliminary programme of the European Economic Community for a consumer protection and information policy (1) recognized the right to protection of health and safety as one of the five basic rights for consumers; whereas this programme as well as the second programme (2) defined the principles for priority action at Community level, particularly concerning the protection of health and safety of consumers through consultation between consumers and producers/distributors;

Having regard to the new impetus for consumer protection policy (3),

Having regard to the Council Regulation of 7 May 1985 on a new approach to technical harmonization and standards (4),

Having regard to the conclusions of the European Forum of consumers and standardization, held in Brussels on the 4 and 5 June 1987,

Whereas, in its communication on consumer involvement on standardization, the Commission proposed to take action to reach agreement with CEN/Cenelec on a new way of working and to prepare a priority programme of standardization for consumer products in the interests of consumers,

RECOMMENDS TO THE MEMBER STATES:

1. That they associate themselves with Commission action aimed at:

(a) persuading national and European standards organizations to:

- provide for active participation of consumers, as well as all other interested parties (such as mawnufacturers, users, traders, and trade unions), in their activity,

- assure the selection of consumer representatives nominated by consumer interests to serve as members of the delegations of national standards bodies in chosen technical committees of CEN/Cenelec;

(b) encouraging consumer representatives to fix clear priorities at European level for standardization aimed at greater consumer protection.

2. To provide basic funding to enable consumers to play an effective role in European standardization without loss of earnings.

Done at Brussels, 10 December 1987.

For the Commission

Grigoris VARFIS

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ No C 92, 25. 4. 1975, p. 1.

(2) OJ No C 133, 3. 6. 1981, p. 1.

(3) COM (85) 314 final, 23. 7. 1985.

(4) OJ No C 136, 4. 6. 1985, p. 1.