Eu: Dual-Price Labelling Directive

After years of argument between the European Parliament and Council over the proposed Directive relating to the price indication of products, a Conciliation Committee between the two bodies has been set up to resolve differences over the draft. The draft Directive would impose an obligation on retailers to include labels on most products indicating both the sale price of the good and the unit price per measure. The European Parliament made various amendments to the draft Directive early in 1996, resulting in the Commission presenting an amended proposal later in that year. In it, the Commission tried to lessen the burden on retailers and producers to indicate both the selling and unit price on all products offered for sale to final consumers by setting out various exemptions and delayed implementation dates. However, the Commission’s amendments have not met with the approval of either the Parliament or the Council, and the Conciliation procedure has therefore been triggered.