Provisional closure of EU talks on consumer affairs

Negotiations on consumer and health protection were provisionally closed with the 10 countries that, according to the European Union, could be ready to join by 2004, the Malta-EU Information Centre said in its latest round-up of negotiations.

The 10 countries are Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.

Negotiations on this chapter were also closed with Bulgaria and Romania.

The acquis for the chapter on consumer and health protection is composed of the following areas: misleading advertising, product liability, doorstep sales, consumer credit, dangerous imitations, package travel and holiday tours, product safety, unfair terms in consumer contracts, time-share, distance selling, comparative advertising, prices on foodstuffs, guarantees for sale of consumer goods and injunctions.

It also contains a council decision establishing a Community system of information on home and leisure accidents (EHLASS) and three Commission decisions on a consumer committee and scientific committees.

Two further Commission decisions adopted in February 2000 dealing with on-the-spot checks in the veterinary field carried out by Commission experts in member states and in third countries. complete the acquis for the chapter.

The harmonisation of consumer protection rules is also an essential element to eliminate market barriers and ensure an integrated economic space where services and goods can circulate with the same standard of safety and quality and where consumers can benefit from similar high levels of protection of their rights. The implementation of these standards and the elimination of market barriers are particularly important in the accession countries. In these countries, the need to grant consumer rights and to ensure free competition and circulation of goods is still higher than in the EU.

No special arrangements were obtained. Negotiations were opened and closed as follows:

Bulgaria: opened October 2000, closed October 2000;
Cyprus: opened April 1999, closed May 1999;
The Czech Republic: opened April 1999, closed May 1999;
Estonia: opened April 1999, closed May 1999;
Hungary: opened April 1999, closed June 1999;
Latvia: opened October 2000, closed October 2000;
Lithuania: opened February 2001, closed February 2001;
Malta: opened October 2000, closed October 2000;
Poland: opened April 1999, closed May 1999;
Romania: opened July 2001, closed July 2001;
Slovakia: opened October 2000, closed October 2000;
Slovenia: opened April 1999, closed May 1999.