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CiCC'/9/84. rev. 4. DRAFT CCC WORK P'ROG'RAt4ME FOR 198'4-1985

It is the task of the CCC "'to advise the Commission on the formulation and implementation! of policies and actions regarding consumer protection and information, either when requested to do so by the Commission or on its own initiative" (Commission decision setting up the CCC - OJ N° L283 of 10.10.73!). CON'Si7LTATION BY ' THE COMMISSION Consultation by DG XI The CCC has requested the Commiission, to provide a list of proposals on which it is to be consultedl., The communication from Mr. Narjes to the Council an Consumer Policy (SRC' (84) 306), contains a list of proposala to be put forward by the Commission, "during the period up to the end of its mandate". These are : Cosmetic products (technical adaptation),. Proposal for a directive on the classification, packaging, and labelling of dangerous preparations. Report to the Council on the pilot project for home accidents and~ the setting up of a permanent system,. Hormones in meat products.. Proposal for a directive on package tours. Report to the Council on the pilot schemes concerning access to justice. Draft Council resolution on consumer education in schools., Most of these iitems are not new, and are already being handled by existing CCC working parties. The only important new subject for the CCC' to consider will be the: draft directive on packa~ge tour holidays, which is expected by the end of' 1984. The CCC wishes to point out that this situation is not satis- factory. DG' XI is planning to put forward only one new initiative on the basis of the 1981 second1consuQner programme. This raises the whole question of the functioning, staff and resources of the consumer service tol which the CCC will give particular attention during its mandate.

2 Consultation by other Commiissionidiepartments~ On many occasions, incliuding, meetings with Mr. Narj'es, the CCC has insisted on its role as a consultative body to the Commission as a whole. The CCC' reiterates its request to:DG XI to provide a list of proposals or reports being prepared by other Commission departments, on which it is likely to be consulted in the second half of 1984 and in 1985. Currently, consultations are occurring often at the last minute, and many opportunities are being missed for consumer organizations to defend the interes:ts of consumers and users in relation to other policies : food and agriculture, transport, energy, thee internal market, insurance, new technologies, etc. The CCC must now insist more strongly on its right to bee systematically consulted by the Coinmission. For example it is argued that it is enough for consumers to be consulted in thie: framework of the various advisory committees. Not only are consurners in a minority in these committees, but often their approach is too technical. Moreover, the activities of thee advisory committees have been g,reatl!y reduced by less frequent meetings forced by budget cuts. The Commission should be aware that reducing the role of advisory committees poses greater problems for consumers than for producers and' makes it all the more important to strengthen the CCC.. PRIORITIES FOR 1984-1985 Despite the current uncertainty, some assumptions can, be made about other items on which the CCC will be consul!tedl, or which it will take up on its own initiative. It should be borne in mind though that the programme should be considered as flexible, andithat the CCC should'be able to respond quickly to topical questions. Maiininew iitems The previous CCC devoted part of' its activity to the report on. "consumers in a period of crisis". The new CCC could usefully follow up that report by concentrating on two major areas where the EEC could develop its~ activity under the second consumer programme.

Eluropean~policy on product safety This would' involve product safety policy in a global perspec- tive, from controls of products before they are put on the market, to the role of standards bodies, systems to col!lect. accident data, product recalls and the responsibility of manufacturers for injury or death caused by dangerous products. The CCC working party on home accidents should be enlarged to become a permanent committee on consumer product safety. EEC'competition policy and price transparency It is unacceptable that the second consumer programme contains no action on prices. The CCC' should revive the working party on prices, and ensure that it works in close co-operation with the working party on competition. It should also contact the statistical office in Luxembourg. " The CCC should prepare a general opinion on prices and competi- tion, as well as the economic interests of consumers in relationo to other EEC policies. The Bureau should first discuss a specific mandate. Other general questions Agricultural policy The CCC will continue to give high priority to the Common Agricultural Policy. The working: party on agriculture should meet in the autumn of 1984 tol begin preparing an opinion on the current state of the CAP and'ithe prospects for the next farm price review. This would allow consumerr organizations to~ put forward their views to the new Parliament and to the Commission. Standard'isation On the basis of' the experience with participation of consumer observers in CEA and CENELEC' and examination of current policy in Member States and at EEC level on standardisation, the CCC'through its working party, should prepare an opinion in the course of 1985.

- 4! - Guidelines for approximation of laws by the EEC There have been frequent calls for a re-approval of the priorities for EEC legislation in the light of "Cassis de Dijon" and the case law of the Court of Justice. It would be useful if the CCC could analyse the possible types of legislation from the consumer point of view. The Commis- sion should prepare a paper setting out the definition off different type',s of directives . ("mllnimum",, "maximum", "options")'. The CCC could theni prepare a report indicating priorities for legislation. This could be considered as alfollow-upp to the opinion on "Cassis de Dijon". Consumer interests iniot.her EtC policies. During the: second half of 1984 and in 19!85, the: CCC will give priority to :. - energy policy : the working party should continue to exa¢nine specific aspects of Commission policy onn pricing and conservation;, - air transport : the working party should draw up an opinion on the Commission memorandum and examine the problem of representation of the ordinary user of air transport inir3ember States and at EEC and internation- ail level s ;- satellite and cable televisioni and advertisinQ regulations : the working party should prepare an opinion on the Commission`s green paper on this sub j;ect;. - pharmaceuticals : the working party should follow any new developments in this area. This programme represents a heavy work load for the CCC. The CCC insists, at ai time: when DK; XI is being re-organized, that it must have an adequate secretariat in the Commission to be able toicarry out these tasks.