Assistant lawyer Nikola Cīparsone compiled the material.
Competition and regulatory
Council adopts regulation on classification, labelling and packaging of chemicals
Adopted: 14 October 2024
The Council has adopted a regulation on the classification, labelling and packaging of chemical substances (CLP). The CLP regulation updates the existing 2008 EU legislation, clarifies the rules on labelling chemical substances, and adapts them to different forms of trade (like, online trade or bulk sales at refill stations). The regulation also promotes the circularity of chemical products, makes labelling (as well as digital labelling) clearer and easier to read, and ensures a higher level of protection against chemical hazards.
EU brings product liability rules in line with digital age and circular economy
Adopted: 10 October 2024
The Council has adopted a directive to update the EU’s civil liability law. The new liability rules are to take into account that nowadays many products have digital features and that the economy is becoming increasingly circular.
Intellectual property
Council has given its final approval to the designs protection package
Adopted: 10 October 2024
The Council has adopted two legislative acts under the design package: 1) the revised directive on the legal protection of designs, and 2) the amended regulation on community designs. The adopted texts update the current design legislation to improve the protection of industrial designs in the era of digital designs and 3D printing.
Cybersecurity
Council adopts new law on security requirements for digital products – Cyber resilience act
Adopted: 10 October 2024
The act establishes novel requirements for digital products, with the aim of ensuring that such products are safe before they are placed on the market. It harmonizes cybersecurity requirements for the design, development, production and making available on the market of hardware and software products, to avoid overlapping requirements stemming from different pieces of Member States’ legislation. Accordingly, the products concerned will bear the ‘CE’ marking to indicate that they comply with the imposed requirements.
Other
Council adopts new directives for European disability and parking cards
Press release: 14 October 2024
The Council has adopted two new directives to make it easier for persons with disabilities to travel within the EU.
The directives establishing the European disability card and the European parking card for persons with disabilities will ensure equal access to special conditions or preferential treatment for persons with disabilities during short stays throughout the EU. For example, reduced or zero entry fees, priority access, assistance, and reserved parking spaces.
Commission’s proposal: an EU Digital Travel application for easier and safer travel
Adopted: 8 October 2024
The European Commission has adopted two proposals to digitalise passports and identity cards, also called ‘EU Digital Travel application’, for individuals travelling to and from the Schengen area.
