31987Y0704(03)

COUNCIL RESOLUTION of 25 June 1987 on consumer safety (87/C 176/03)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,

Having regard to the Council resolution of 23 June 1986 concerning the future orientation of the policy of the European Economic Community for the protection and promotion of consumer interests (1),

Whereas, pursuant to Article 2 of the Treaty, the task of the European Economic Community is to promote throughout the Community a harmonious development of economic activities, a continuous and balanced expansion and an accelerated raising of the standard of living;

Whereas the improvement of the quality of life is one of the tasks of the Community and as such implies, inter alia, protecting the health and safety of consumers;

Whereas the fulfilment of this task requires a consumer protection and information policy to be implemented at a Community level;

Whereas in its resolution of 23 June 1986 the Council approved the objectives of the Community consumer protection policy as set forth in the Commission communication entitled "A new impetus for consumer protection policy" ; whereas provision was made in the timetable for implementing the proposed measures contained in the Annex to the said communication for the preparation of a report on the general obligation to place safe products on the market;

Whereas it is to be hoped that in completing the internal market the Community will take the measures necessary to ensure a high level of consumer protection, particularly as regards the quality and safety of products;

Whereas the Commission has submitted to the Council a communication on the safety of consumers in relation to consumer products in which it expresses the view that the Community must adopt a harmonization Directive imposing in particular a general obligation on manufacturers, traders and importers to produce and market only safe products,

welcomes the Commission communication and notes its analysis of the current situation as regards general legislation on consumer safety;

acknowledges the importance for consumer protection of producing and marketing only safe products;

notes the Commission's intention to prepare and forward to the Council in good time a proposal aimed at creating a general obligation in this sense. (1) OJ No C 167, 5.6.1986, p. 1.