Council conclusions

of 14 December 2000

Implementation of the Council Resolution of 24 June 1999 on the management of agreements on mutual recognition

(2001/C 8/02)

1. The Council welcomes the important work accomplished with a view to implementing the Council Resolution of 24 June 1999 on the management of agreements on mutual recognition(1). It takes note of the documents drawn up for this purpose: guiding principles for the preparation and negotiation of agreements for the mutual recognition of conformity assessment and the vade-mecum on mutual recognition agreements.

2. The Council underlines the usefulness of these documents for explaining the Community's external strategy regarding all types of mutual recognition agreement. It considers that they should be supplemented and amended in the light of experience gained so as to contribute towards strengthening intra-Community organisation and transparency in the preparation, negotiation and management of mutual recognition agreements.

3. The Council emphasises the expectations of the Community institutions, the competent authorities of the Member States and economic operators as regards information and legal certainty. It calls on the Commission to continue with its efforts to meet those requirements. The Council stresses, in particular, the essential function of warning systems at Community level, making it possible to guarantee the safety of all products put into circulation on the Community market, including the products concerned by mutual recognition agreements, particularly in the pharmaceutical sector.

4. The Council underlines the importance it attaches to the a priori and a posteriori assessment of mutual recognition agreements, in particular the consultation of the various players concerned (competent authorities of the Member States, undertakings, conformity assessment bodies) and an analysis of the impact of these agreements on the internal market.

5. Lastly, the Council underlines the need to ensure that the mutual recognition agreements do not affect the proper functioning of the internal market, particularly through an exchange of information between the committees coming under the mutual recognition agreements and the committees and working parties competent for the internal market.

(1) OJ C 190, 7.7.1999, p. 2.