Directive 1998/6 - Consumer protection in the indication of the prices of products offered to consumers - Main contents
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Directive 98/6/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 1998 on consumer protection in the indication of the prices of products offered to consumers| Legal instrument | Directive |
|---|---|
| Number legal act | Directive 1998/6 |
| Original proposal | COM(1995)276  |
| CELEX number i | 31998L0006 |
| Document | 16-02-1998 |
|---|---|
| Publication in Official Journal | 18-03-1998; Special edition in Latvian: Chapter 15 Volume 004,Special edition in Romanian: Chapter 15 Volume 004,Special edition in Slovak: Chapter 15 Volume 004,OJ L 80, 18.3.1998,Special edition in Estonian: Chapter 15 Volume 004,Special edition in Czech: Chapter 15 Volume 004,Special edition in Bulgarian: Chapter 15 Volume 004,Special edition in Maltese: Chapter 15 Volume 004,Special edition in Polish: Chapter 15 Volume 004,Special edition in Hungarian: Chapter 15 Volume 004,Special edition in Slovenian: Chapter 15 Volume 004,Special edition in Lithuanian: Chapter 15 Volume 004,Special edition in Croatian: Chapter 15 Volume 012 |
| Effect | 18-03-1998; Entry into force Date pub. See Art 13 |
| Deadline | 18-03-2003; At the latest See Art 12 28-11-2021; See Art 8.3 |
| End of validity | 31-12-9999 |
| Transposition | 18-03-2000; At the latest See Art 11.1 |
18.3.1998 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Communities |
L 80/27 |
DIRECTIVE 98/6/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
of 16 February 1998
on consumer protection in the indication of the prices of products offered to consumers
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 129a(2) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2),
Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189b of the Treaty (3), in the light of the joint text approved by the Conciliation Committee on 9 December 1997,
(1) |
Whereas transparent operation of the market and correct information is of benefit to consumer protection and healthy competition between enterprises and products; |
(2) |
Whereas consumers must be guaranteed a high level of protection; whereas the Community should contribute thereto by specific action which supports and supplements the policy pursued by the Member States regarding precise, transparent and unambiguous information for consumers on the prices of products offered to them; |
(3) |
Whereas the Council Resolution of 14 April 1975 on a preliminary programme of the European Economic Community for a consumer protection and information policy (4) and the Council Resolution of 19 May 1981 on a second programme of the European Economic Community for a consumer protection and information policy (5) provide for the establishment of common principles for indicating prices; |
(4) |
Whereas these principles have been established by Directive 79/581/EEC concerning the indication of prices of certain foodstuffs (6) and Directive 88/314/EEC concerning the indication of prices of non-food products (7); |
(5) |
Whereas the link between indication of the unit price of products and their pre-packaging in pre-established quantities or capacities corresponding to the values of the ranges adopted at Community level has proved overly complex to apply, whereas it is thus necessary to abandon this link in favour of a new simplified mechanism and in the interest of the consumer, without prejudice to the rules governing packaging standardisation; |
(6) |
Whereas the obligation to indicate the selling price and the unit price contributes substantially to improving consumer information, as this is the easiest way to enable consumers to evaluate and compare the price of products in an optimum manner and hence to make informed choices on the basis of simple comparisons; |
(7) |
Whereas, therefore, there should be a general obligation to indicate both the selling price and the unit price for all products except for products sold in bulk, where the selling price cannot be determined until the consumer indicates how much of the product is required; |
(8) |
Whereas it is necessary to take into account the fact that certain products are customarily sold in quantities different from one kilogramme, one litre, one metre, one square metre or one cubic metre; whereas it is thus appropriate to allow Member States to authorise that the unit price refer to a different single unit of quantity, taking into account the nature of the product and the quantities in which it is customarily sold in the Member State concerned; |
(9) |
Whereas the obligation to indicate the unit price may entail an excessive burden for certain small retail businesses under certain circumstances; whereas Member States should therefore be allowed to refrain from applying this obligation during an appropriate transitional period; |
(10) |
Whereas Member States should also remain free to waive the obligation to indicate the unit price... |
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