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New Approach Directives and the free movement of goods in the European Community

The free movement of goods lies at the heart of achieving an open market for business in Europe. In May 1985, European Community Ministers agreed on a "New Approach to Technical Harmonisation and Standards" to fulfil this objective.
 
"New Approach" Directives (that is Community Law) set out the essential requirements (on safety for example), written in general terms which must be met before products may be sold in the UK or anywhere else in the European Community. European harmonised standards provide the detailed technical information enabling manufacturers to meet the essential requirements. The directives also explain how manufacturers are able to demonstrate conformity with the essential requirements. Products which meet the essential requirements are to display the CE marking, as described in the particular directive, which means that the products can be sold anywhere in the Community/EEA.

A list of references to harmonised standards in the context of the "New Approach" Directives can be found on the European Commission website.

Main Features of the Legislation

• Legislation is limited to goal-setting essential health and safety requirements
• Standards bodies draw up the technical specifications - European Standards - needed to ensure conformity with these requirements
• The standards are voluntary
• Products made to European Standards enjoy a presumption of conformity with the essential requirements of the directives.

Further information

As a result of the New Approach Review, please see "Enhancing the Implementation of the New Approach Directives" for information on the Commission's Proposals for a Regulation setting out the requirements for accreditation and market surveillance and a Decision on a common framework for the marketing of products.

Further information can be found on the New Approach Directives and CE Marking on www.newapproach.org; and also in our booklet "Keeping your product on the market" (available from the link on the right, or you can order a hard copy online via BERR Publications). See also the EC Commission's own Guide to the Implementation of Directives based on the New Approach and Global Approach (the so-called 'Vade Mecum'). The European Commission has issued a Communication on the "Role of European Standardisation in the Framework of European Policies and Legislation" which identifies the priorities for standardisation policy. It is supported by a staff working paper dealing with the challenges for European standardisation.

Contact - Jeff Asser, Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform, Bay 384, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET. Tel: 020 7215 1481; fax: 020 7215 2635. E-mail: Jeff.Asser@berr.gsi.gov.uk