Nominal quantities for prepacked products

The proposal has become a test case for the Commission’s strategy on Better Regulation for growth and jobs in the European Union and for the simplification of the regulatory environment.

The Council supported for the Commission’s modified proposal on condition that for certain sectors Member States would be allowed to maintain currently existing national sizes for domestic production in some sectors for a transitional period.

It also reflects partially the opinion of the European Parliament at first reading. Some of Parliament's amendments were already incorporated in the Commission's amended proposal. A number of Parliament’s amendments have been reflected either in full or in part in the common position.

All modifications to the Commission's amended proposal introduced by the Council in its common position have been accepted by the Commission.

Neither the Council nor the Commission could, however, accept the European Parliament amendments to harmonise sizes in sectors where this is currently not the case, namely milk, butter, coffee, pasta, rice and brown sugar.

The Council has introduced a transitional period of five years after the entry into force of the Directive, during which time the currently existing national sizes can be maintained for domestic production of milk, butter, coffee, dried pasta and rice as well as a period of six years for white sugar.

The Council considers that its common position is well in line with the original objectives of the proposed Directive.