Parliament blocks 'meddling' Commission regulation plans

MEPs are celebrating victory over what had been branded as "meddling EU plans" to regulate everyday household items.  Under the proposals, products such as umbrellas and washing up gloves would have been regulated in the same way as industrial safety equipment. 

The EU wanted to ensure that everyday items sold across the EU are tested and then certified to prove they can withstand “basic detergents”.  Critics said these would have meant regulating simple goods such as household washing up gloves and brollies.  But, following a vote in Parliament, the original plans have been blocked.

The Commission's planned legislation on personal protective equipment has been simplified and the scope of the proposals will be limited.  The parliament's Committee on the Single market and Consumer Protection approved a revised version of the proposals to update requirements for equipment such as hard hats, life jackets and safety harnesses.

The new version has removed a planned extension of the law to include products for private use against heat, damp and water.  British Conservative MEP Vicky Ford, who chairs the committee and is also the European Parliament's lead negotiator or rapporteur on the proposal, welcomed the move.

Ford said: "Of course we want clear and strong standards for safety products where lives can depend on them and in the work place. But there is no need for the EU to get over-zealous and try to take control of our kitchen goods in our own home and rainwear. That would have been crazy and I am glad we have brought some common sense to bear."

The law will now go through the "trilogue" process, when it is discussed by representatives of the European Parliament, Council and Commission.  It had been feared that the price of oven gloves and marigolds would have soared because of what some called an  'EU health and safety power grab' which, it was claimed, would have stopped people being injured in the kitchen.  It was claimed that the original EU regulations would have forced the price of the products up by as much as 20%.

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