92000E0081

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0081/00

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(24 January 2000)

Subject: Proposals for amending Directive 85/374/EEC on liability for defective products

With a view to improving Directive 85/374/EEC(1) on liability for defective products the Commission called on interested parties to submit their comments on questions raised in the Green Paper on liability for defective products before the expiry of a period of four months from the date of publication of the Green Paper. As the Green Paper itself states: The announcement of this move mldr naturally aroused the interest of the economic operators, consumers and public administrations.

1. Does the Commission consider that the response of the economic operators and public administrations in the Member States to the questions in the Green Paper has been satisfactory?

2. From which Greek consumer organisations has it received comments? Did the General Secretariat for Consumers respond?

(1) OJ L 210, 7.8.1985, p. 29.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(7 March 2000)

1. The Commission can inform the Honourable Member that it has received nearly 100 comments on the green paper(1).

Replies emanate from national and European consumer organisations, sectors of industry concerned (in particular pharmaceuticals, cars, insurance, chemicals, agricultural products, electrical equipment), public administrations of Member States (Denmark, Germany, Greece, France, Austria, Portugal, Finland, United Kingdom) and third countries (Iceland, Norway, Slovenia, Switzerland) and bodies specialising in product liability (e.g. Pan-European organisation of personal injury lawyers, United States Defense research institute, Special committee on European product liability law).

The Commission published the comments on the Internet (http://europa.eu.int/internal_market/en/goods/liability/replies.htm).

At this stage, it is premature to judge the substance of the replies.

2. No reaction has so far been received from any Greek consumer organisation.

(1) COM(99) 396 final.