Product Liability and Labelling

On 15 April 2008, the European Commission (the Commission) launched a consultation on the options for amending the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (2002/96/EC) (WEEE Directive) as part of its general review of the WEEE Directive (see Commission announcement).The WEEE Directive aims to minimise the impact of electrical and electronic equipment on the environment by increasing its reuse and recycling, thus reducing the amount of WEEE sent to landfill. It requires the Commission to review its implementation of the WEEE Directive and report to the European Parliament and Council by 31 December 2008, together with any proposals for its amendment.The Commission's review document suggests the following options for amendment:Increasing targets for some or all of the current ten categories of WEEE collected, reused and recycled by member states, as well as adding medical devices.Including categories of WEEE currently excluded, such as military equipment and large stationary industrial tools.Harmonising implementation of the WEEE Directive across member states.Including distance selling within the definition of "producer".Scheme financing obligations.Product labelling requirements.Setting treatment technology and technique standards.The Commission points out that a considerable amount of the information that would assist the review is in the hands of member states, competent authorities, businesses, industry associations and NGOs.The consultation closes o

An update on the summary of responses to The European Commission's proposed Construction Products Regulation: Consultantion on the proposals and development of a UK negotiating line, published by the Government's Communities and Local Government Department.

The European Commission's White Paper on food safety was adopted in January 2000 to launch a 'farm to table' legislative action programme.

The government has been given the power under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 to remove or amend the caps on fines that magistrates' courts can impose for  criminal offences.

France specific issues raised by product liability claims.

Italy specific issues raised by product liability claims.

US specific issues raised by product liability claims.

The long arm of US product liability law is increasingly reaching out to unsuspecting UK companies with devastating consequences. The article looks at US product liability law and US procedures and its relevance to UK companies. The risks to UK companies are identified and an explanation is given of how they may be managed.

One of the company's coaches has crashed with suspicions that the coach wheels were defective. The panel advise on how to act.

The generation and dissemination of significant volumes of new hazard and exposure information about commonly used chemicals under the REACH Regulation (1907/2006/EC) may, in the shorter term, have less welcome consequences for chemical-intensive industries and their insurers, in the form of increased product liability and occupational health exposures.

Germany specific information concerning product regulation, safety and recall issues.

Italy specific information concerning product regulation, safety and recall issues.

US specific information concerning product regulation, safety and recall issues.

A consideration of the legal and practical implications of the new EU product safety regime.

The Tobacco Products (Manufacture, Presentation and Sale) (Safety) Regulations 2002 came into force on 31st December, 2002, and the EU Council of Ministers has agreed a new tobacco advertising directive and has adopted a recommendation on the prevention of smoking and tobacco control.