21 May Internal Market Council

Date: 29/05/1997

MINISTERS gave their strong support to the European Commission's action plan for pushing ahead with completion of the single market by 1999.

Backing was given to the idea of concentrating on four strategic target areas to be identified by the Commission. However, ministers agreed that the 1 January 1999 target date could not be an absolute one since some measures might need longer lead times. They were also cautious about the Commission's second target of dealing with key market distortions, warning that some highly controversial steps were being suggested.

LAWYERS will be given the right to practise on a permanent basis in a country other than the one in which they qualified, under an agreement reached by ministers. The agreed draft gives lawyers the choice of either practising under their home country professional title for an unlimited period with certain conditions attached, or seeking admission to the profession in their host country after a transitional period of three years' regular activity there. Luxembourg held out against the deal.

LONG-delayed rules governing the marketing of ionised food took a significant step forward. Italy was sidelined in its opposition to regulations for selling treated food. Ministers committed themselves to a framework directive setting out the conditions for treatment, the approval and control of irradiation facilities, and labelling, even when the ionised product accounts for less than 1&percent; of the finished item. An implementing directive would establish a list of foodstuffs that could be treated with ionising radiation and set the maximum permitted doses.

AGREEMENT was reached by ministers on all but one of the points concerning the marketing of in vitro devices for examining samples for medical diagnosis. Most of the devices are used in laboratories, but a growing proportion are used by patients themselves, for example for glucose or pregnancy tests. The proposal sets out the essential requirements which devices must meet and conformity procedures with which manufacturers must comply. However, French and Austrian delegations are holding out against a final agreement.