SLIMming down the EMC Directive

Brussels decided to submit the EMC Directive to the Simpler Legislation in the Internal Market (SLIM) process, a procedure which is being applied across a range of Euro-legislation. The first phase of SLIM was a review of the Directive by a panel comprising five legislators, including one from the UK Department of Trade and Industry, plus five experts drawn from European industry. An initial report published in September 1998 was finally adopted by DGIII in January 1999 with 20 recommendations. This was followed in February by a meeting of all the member states that determined a draft policy for a SLIM Working Party to follow. The most significant conclusion reached by the panel was the need to proceed with a revision of the Directive, work which should be completed by May 2000. After a subsequent approval and consultation process lasting around two years and involving the European Parliament, the Council of Ministers and Member States, a revised Directive will become European legislation which all 15 EU Member States will be required to incorporate into their national legislation within two years of its publication in the Official Journal scheduled for Autumn 2002.