S.I. No. 401/2000 - European Communities (Liability For Defective Products) Regulations, 2000.

1. Member States shall adopt and publish the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.

They shall apply these measures as from 4 December 2000.

When the Member States adopt these measures, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such reference on the occasion of their official publication. The methods of making such reference shall be laid down by the Member States.

2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the provisions of national law which they subsequently adopt in the field governed by this Directive.

Article 3

This Directive shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

Article 4

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 10 May, 1999.

For the European Parliament

For the Council

The President

The President

J.M. GIL-ROBLES

H.EICHEL

GIVEN under my Official Seal, this 5th day of December, 2000.

MARY HARNEY,

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

These Regulations have been made to give effect to Council Directive 1999/34/EC on Liability for Defective Products which amended the Council Directive 885/374/EEC on Liability for Defective Products.

The Regulations will apply to all producers and manufacturers including agricultural and game producers after the 4 December 2000.

1

O.J. No. L 141 of 4.6.1999, p.20.

(1)

O.J. No. L210 of 7.8.1985, p.29

(2)

O.J. No. L141 of 4.6.1999, p.20, and

(1)

OJ C 337, 7.11.1997, p.54.

(2)

OJ C 95, 30.3.1998, p.69.

(3)

Opinion of the European Parliament of 5 November 1998 (OJ C 359, 23.11.1998, p.25), Council Common Position of 17 December 1998 (OJ C 49, 22.2.1999, p.1) and Decision of the European Parliament of 23 March 1999 (not yet published in the Official Journal) Council Decision of 29 April 1999.

(4)

OJ L 210, 7.8.1985, p.29. Directive as amended by the 1994 Act of Accession.

(5)

OJ L 228, 11.8.1992, p.24”

I, MARY HARNEY, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by

section 3

of the

European Communities Act, 1972

(No. 27 of 1972), and for the purpose of giving effect to Directive 1999/34/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 May 1999

1

, hereby make the following Regulations