Activites

• 1998/03/18 Final act published in Official Journal
  • Directive 1998/6
  • OJ L 080 18.03.1998, p. 0027
• 1998/02/16 Final act signed
• 1998/02/16 End of procedure in Parliament
• #2063
• 1997/12/18 Council Meeting
• 1997/12/16 Decision by Parliament, 3rd reading
  • T4-0602/1997 summary

    In adopting the report by Mrs Ria OOMEN-RUIJTEN (EPP, NL) Parliament approved the joint text which provides in particular for Member States to have the option for a three year transitional period of exempting certain small retail businesses from the obligation to indicate the unit price in addition to the sales price. �

• 1997/12/15 Debate in Parliament
  • Debate in Parliament
• 1997/12/11 Report tabled for plenary, 3rd reading
  • A4-0414/1997
• 1997/12/09 Joint text approved by Conciliation Committee co-chairs
  • 3631/1997
• 1997/11/20 Final decision by Conciliation Committee
• 1997/11/06 Formal meeting of Conciliation Committee
• #2004
• 1997/05/12 Council Meeting
• 1997/02/18 Debate in Parliament
  • Debate in Parliament summary

    The rapporteur firstly explained why the proposal on price indication had taken such a long time to arrive at a clear system of price comparison which was in consumers’ interests. Mrs Oomen-Ruijten then cited the main exemptions which Member States were free to apply to the system; the amendments tabled included, in particular, goods sold in vending machines and by itinerant traders and also food sold in hotels, restaurants, canteens, theatres, cinemas and so on. As regards the protection afforded to small retailers, the rapporteur pointed out the transitional provision which deferred, just for them, the application of the new price display regime. In addition, at small points of sale, the price could also be indicated in a price list visibly displayed in the premises. Finally, the speaker stated that, during the transitional period following the introduction of the single currency, the regime in question would be further amended to allow the selling price and unit price to also be expressed in the single currency. Commissioner Flynn stated that the Commission was prepared to accept most of the amendments. However, it could not accept Nos 9, 15 and 16 on the system of dual pricing in national currencies and euros, after the latter’s launch, as it seemed too early to lay down such detailed rules on the measures accompanying the single currency which would be the subject of a global presentation at the due time. Likewise, the Commission could not accept Amendments Nos 23 and 24, because they laid down detailed rules on price indication and encroached on the competence of Member States. or Amendment No 25 which contradicted another amendment (No 6) which had been accepted. Finally, Mr Flynn stated that the Commission agreed with the interpretation that the exemptions included in Amendment No 13 could be extended to antique dealers.

  • T4-0036/1997 summary

    In adopting the report by Mrs Ria OOMEN-RUIJTEN (PPE, NL) Parliament amended at second reading the Council's common position on consumer protection in the indication of the prices of products. In order to assist small retail businesses Parliament proposes granting them a deadline of a maximum of six years to conform to this directive. It asks that the Commission submit an assessment report on the situation one year before the last deadline provided for the generalized application of the provision. The report also calls for the Member States to be allowed not to apply the obligation to indicate the unit price to: - sales of products in vending machines; - itinerant traders and personal in-home sales; - foodstuffs sold in catering establishments, cinemas and theatres, educational establishments, recreational establishments, staff shops at the workplace, hospitals, canteens and similar institutions. The selling price and the unit price shall be indicated on the product offered for sale or on the shelf where the product is located, in such a manner as to be clearly legible for the consumer. In small retail businesses the prices may also be indicated on a price list displayed in a prominent place in the shop. Parliament also stressed that following the introduction of the Euro, the following three prices may be indicated: - selling price in the national currency, - selling price in the single currency, - unit price in the single currency. If a temporary special offer or discount applies an indication of other prices, for information purposes, shall be optional. It was also proposed that Member States may waive the obligation to indicate the unit price of products for which such indication is meaningless because of the products' nature or purpose or would be liable to create confusion. �

• 1997/01/22 Vote in committee, 2nd reading
  • A4-0015/1997
• 1996/10/24 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 2nd reading
• #1949
• 1996/09/27 Council Meeting
  • 08252/1/1996 summary

    The common position of the Council on consumer protection in the indication of the prices of products offered to consumers did not incorporate any of the amendments adopted by Parliament and incorporated by the Commission in its amended proposal. The Council departed from the amended proposal by inserting new provisions, notably with the following aims: - to clarify the scope of the Directive: the Council inserted explicit exemptions, stating that products supplied in the course of the provision of a service, and sales of works of art and antiques, were excluded from its scope. It also adopted more detailed definitions, particularly of the terms 'sale price', 'products sold in bulk', 'trader' and 'consumer'. It stated clearly that advertising was included. - to take into account the difficulties faced by certain businesses in applying the new provisions: Member States which so wished were to remain free to exempt certain small businesses from the requirement to indicate price per unit of measurement. Not more than 3 years after the expiry of the deadline for transposition, the Commission was to submit a report and, if appropriate, a specific proposal concerning small businesses. �

• 1996/06/24 Modified legislative proposal published
  • COM(1996)0264 summary

    The amended proposal by the Commission on consumer protection in the indication of the prices of products offered to consumers incorporated 14 of the 22 amendments adopted by the European Parliament. The main changes made by the Commission concerned: - clarification of the text: auctions and privates sales would be excluded from the directive. The obligation to indicate the price per unit measurement was not to apply to: foodstuffs sold in hotels, cafes, restaurants, public houses, cinemas and theatres, teaching institutions, leisure centres, staff shops, hospitals, canteens and similar establishments; itinerant traders; products sold in means of transport; products sold in vending machines; - the treatment of small retail businesses: the Commission was in favour, not of an exemption, but of a generous adjustment period of six extra years after the date of application of the Directive. It did not adopt the idea of financial support for information programmes for small retail businesses. �

• 1996/04/18 Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
  • T4-0190/1996 summary

    In adopting the report by Mrs Ria OOMEN-RUIJTEN (PPE,NL), Parliament approved the directive the purpose of which is to stipulate indication of the selling price (final price for a given quantity of the product) and the price per unit (kg, litre, metre, sq metre, cubic metre etc.) of products offered for retail to final consumers, so as to facilitate comparison of prices, wherever such comparison is relevant. The selling price and the unit price must be indicated on the product offered for sale or on the shelf where it is located. In small retail businesses the prices may also be indicated on a price list displayed in a prominent place in the shop. Parliament called for the following to be excluded from this directive: - food products sold in hotels, cafés, restaurants, drinks outlets, cinemas and theatres, teaching establishments, leisure centres, staff cooperatives, hospitals, canteens and similar establishments; - itinerant salesmen; - products sold in means of transport; - products sold in vending machines; - auctions; - private sales. In the transitional period following introduction of the single currency, the following three prices should be indicated: selling price in the national currency; selling price in the single currency; unit price in the single currency. The Commission and the Member States were invited to provide the necessary financing for training sales outlet staff responsible for explaining the prices to consumers in the run-up to the single currency. The Commission should grant financial aid for information campaigns for small retailers. �

• 1996/04/17 Debate in Parliament
  • Debate in Parliament
• 1996/04/15 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • A4-0109/1996
• 1995/09/18 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
• 1995/07/12 Legislative proposal published
  • COM(1995)0276 summary

    OBJECTIVE: to adopt new arrangements for improving consumer information and simplifying existing law to allow the Community to propose a standard level of price information for consumers, based on national policies. COMMUNITY MEASURE: proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive on consumer protection in the indication of the prices of products offered to consumers. SUBSTANCE: the proposal contains simplified arrangements to replace the mechanism for the indication of product prices established by Directive 79/581/EEC and 88/314/EEC for foodstuffs and non-food products respectively, application of which has proved very complex for many Member States. The transitional period for implementation has just been extended by two years by means of a postponement directive. - The proposal for a Directive enshrines the general consumer information principle of indicating the selling price and unit price of both foodstuffs and non-food products. - The obligation to display prices is incumbent on sellers offering wares to the public, in other words the final consumer, a natural person who is not purchasing in the course of business. The rules on price indication do not apply to dealings between suppliers and retailers. - For bulk products, only the unit price has to be indicated. - The selling price and unit price must be unambiguous, easily identifiable and clearly legible. They must relate to the final price of the product. - Member States must lay down practical procedures for marking and labelling. - The Directive stipulates the role of Member States in making exemptions for certain products where indication of the unit price would not be meaningful in terms of consumer information (e.g. non-food products). - The obligation to indicate the unit price applies from 7 July 1997. Member States may extend, by a maximum of four years, the period of adaptation to the new mechanism for certain small retail businesses. - Member States must lay down penalties for infringements of national provisions adopted in application of the Directive. These penalties must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive. - Member States will submit details of any exemptions they adopt. - The Commission will submit a report to the European Parliament and Council no later than four years after the final date for transposition. This will be preceded, after two years, by an interim report relating to small retail businesses. �

Documents

• Legislative proposal published: COM(1995)0276
• Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading: A4-0109/1996
• Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T4-0190/1996
• Modified legislative proposal published: COM(1996)0264
• Council position published: 08252/1/1996
• Committee recommendation tabled for plenary, 2nd reading: A4-0015/1997
• Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
• Decision by Parliament, 2nd reading: T4-0036/1997
• Joint text approved by Conciliation Committee co-chairs: 3631/1997
• Report tabled for plenary, 3rd reading: A4-0414/1997
• Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
• Decision by Parliament, 3rd reading: T4-0602/1997
• : Directive 1998/6
• : OJ L 080 18.03.1998, p. 0027

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)