Press Release: Free movement of goods: Commission acts against Italy, Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands and Belgium

The European Commission sent a formal reminder to Italy that it must apply a judgement of the Court of Justice from October 2003 requiring it to remove obstacles to imports of maritime equipment from other Member States. The Commission also decided to refer Finland to the Court over its requirement to obtain a temporary transfer permit for Finnish residents wishing to import a vehicle previously registered and used in another Member State. The Commission also asked Denmark formally to change national rules prohibiting the use of light-reducing films for vehicle windows. The Netherlands was asked to remove obstacles to imports from other Member States of oysters and mussels to be cultivated in its coastal waters. Finally, the Commission was requesting Belgium to change the Brussels Region's restrictions on companies authorised to produce refuse sacks and Italy to stop preventing the importing of cocoa products containing above a certain level of ochratoxine A (OTA), a natural component of such products. The Commission's formal requests took the form of reasoned opinions, the second stage of the infringement procedure under Article 226 of the EC Treaty. No satisfactory response received within two months, the Commission was entitled to decide to take the Member States concerned to the European Court of Justice.