THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 95 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee(1),
Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty(2),
Whereas:
(1) Community policies on better regulation stress the importance of simplification of national and Community legislation as a crucial element in improving the competitiveness of enterprises and achieving the objectives of the Lisbon Agenda.
(2) The method of conformity assessment provided for by Council Directive 84/539/EEC(3) is no longer necessary for the purposes of the internal market and trade with third countries.
(3) The functioning of the internal market and the protection of users and animals can be better ensured by other Community legislation.
(4) Directive 84/539/EEC should therefore be repealed.
(5) The repeal of Directive 84/539/EEC entails that after 31 December 2008 the specimen mark of conformity of Annex III to that Directive will no longer be used and that the corresponding national implementing measures have to be repealed accordingly,
HAVE ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
Opinion of 16 January 2008 (not yet published in the Official Journal).
Opinion of the European Parliament of 29 November 2007 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and Council Decision of 14 February 2008.
OJ L 300, 19.11.1984, p. 179. Directive as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 807/2003 (OJ L 122, 16.5.2003, p. 36).