ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the rules which seek to establish the internal market through positive integration technical harmonisation standards and the General Product Safety Directive. Most 'new approach' technical harmonisation directives are likely to be held to be total harmonisation directives. The General Product Safety Directive provides that all member states should have authorities with adequate powers to ensure that only safe products are marketed and that action is taken when dangerous products are discovered. The dominant interest of the European Community (EC) with respect to product safety regulation has been to create an effective single market by removing national regulations which establish potential technical barriers to trade. In May 1969 the EC Council adopted a General Programme for the elimination of technical barriers to trade that result from disparities between the provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in member states.
