Free movements of goods: exchange of information on national measures

Following the European Parliament's approval of its common position, the Council adopted the decision establishing a procedure for the exchange of information on national measures derogating from the principle of the free movement of goods within the Community. The German and Dutch delegations voted against the text. Their explanations of voting were published in Press Release 7568/95 (Press 162) of 6 June 1995. The aim of the decision was to improve the implementation of Article 100B of the Treaty (mutual recognition of national measures in the absence of harmonisation at Community level), especially where greater transparency was concerned. It was designed to introduce a system of information exchange between the Member States and the Commission, leading in particular to the communication of cases of refusal to put on the market products which were legally manufactured or marketed in another Member State. The decision would enter into force on 1 January 1997.