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Turkey – Health and consumers

Candidate countries conduct negotiations with the European Union (EU) in order to prepare themselves for accession. The accession negotiations cover the adoption and implementation of European legislation (acquis) and, more specifically, the priorities identified jointly by the Commission and the candidate countries in the analytical assessment (or ‘screening’) of the EU’s political and legislative acquis. Each year, the Commission reviews the progress made by candidates and evaluates the efforts required before their accession. This monitoring is the subject of annual reports presented to the Council and the European Parliament.

ACT

Commission Report [COM(2011) 666 final – SEC(2011) 1201 – Not published in the Official Journal].

SUMMARY

The 2011 Report signals progress both in public health and consumer protection matters. However, the country must complete its alignment with European legislation and develop its administrative capacities.

EUROPEAN UNION ACQUIS (according to the Commission’s words)

The acquis in this area covers protection of the economic interests of consumers in a number of specific sectors (misleading and comparative advertising, price indication, consumer credit, unfair contract terms, distance and doorstep selling, package travel, timeshare, injunctions for the protection of consumers' interests, certain aspects of the sale of consumer goods and associated guarantees), as well as general safety of consumer goods (liability for defective products, dangerous imitations and general safety of goods) and distance marketing of consumer financial services. The Member States of the European Union (EU) must transpose the acquis into their national law, and establish administrative structures and independent implementation bodies which ensure real market surveillance and effective application of the acquis. They must also provide appropriate judicial and out-of-court dispute resolution mechanisms. Furthermore, they must ensure that consumers are informed and educated and that consumer organisations play an active role. This chapter also covers certain binding rules with regard to public health.

EVALUATION (according to the Commission’s words)

Some progress can be reported on consumer and health protection.

In the area of consumer protection, revised framework laws for consumer protection and general product safety are still to be adopted. Improvement of market surveillance activities requires the allocation of further financial and human resources, while cooperation with consumer NGOs needs strengthening.

In the area of public health, Turkey has not yet completed the legislative alignment process nor built up the administrative capacity to improve the enforcement of legislation in order to enhance the health and safety status of the population.

RELATED ACTS

Commission Report [COM(2010) 660 final – SEC(2010) 1327 – Not published in the Official Journal]. The 2010 Report stated that preparations in the fields of consumer protection and public health were on the right track. However, in terms of consumer protection, additional effort was required to strengthen consumer organisations and to ensure that legislation is implemented effectively. In the field of public health, the Report noted significant progress in terms of alignment with the acquis. However, implementation of the legislation still needed to be improved.

Commission Report [COM(2009) 533 final – SEC(2009) 1334 – Not published in the Official Journal].

The 2009 Report did not present any significant progress but the Commission announced preparations in view of the continuation of the reforms.

Commission Report [COM(2008) 674 final – SEC(2008) 2699 – Not published in the Official Journal].

The 2008 Report emphasised the good level of consumer protection offered by Turkey. However, the administrative capacity and cooperation of the market surveillance authorities should be developed. In addition, the share of the budget allocated to market surveillance was not adapted to the size of the country. The Commission also noted with regret the weak influence of the consumer associations.

Commission Report [COM(2007) 663 final – SEC(2007) 1436 – Not published in the Official Journal].

The 2007 Report presented the progress made by Turkey. It also noted the lack of influence on the part of the consumer movement in Turkey.

Commission Report [COM(2006) 649 final – SEC(2006) 1390 – Not published in the Official Journal].

The 2006 Report noted that Turkey had still to comply with European standards for the notification of dangerous products and the exchange of information on such products. Nevertheless, the Report mentioned improvements in the protection of consumers’ economic interests, such as the transposal of the Community Directive on credit cards.

Commission Report [COM(2005) 561 final – SEC(2005) 1426 – Not published in the Official Journal].

The 2005 Report described progress in implementing non-safety-related measures, but no progress had been made in the area of safety. The increase in administrative capacity had not yet taken effect.

Commission Report [COM(2004) 656 final - SEC(2004) 1201 - Not published in the Official Journal].

The 2004 Report noted that Turkey had made progress in implementing the acquis with regard to non-safety-related measures. It should therefore continue its efforts to transpose and implement the acquis with regard to liability for defective products.

Commission Report [COM(2003) 676 final – SEC(2003) 1212 - Not published in the Official Journal].

The 2003 Report confirmed that Turkey had made good progress, but needed to continue its efforts to transpose and apply the acquis.

Commission Report [COM(2002) 700 final - SEC(2002) 1412 - Not published in the Official Journal].

The 2002 Report recommended concentrating on bringing the legal framework into line with the acquis and on effectively implementing the measures already transposed.

Commission Report [COM(2001) 700 final - SEC(2001) 1756 - Not published in the Official Journal].

Commission Report [COM(2000) 713 final - Not published in the Official Journal].

Commission Report [COM(1999) 513 final - Not published in the Official Journal]. The 1999 Report noted that the alignment of Turkish legislation with the Community acquis was continuing to progress slowly. Improvements were expected particularly in institutional terms.

Commission Report [COM(1998) 711 final - Not published in the Official Journal]. In its 1998 Report the Commission noted that the framework Consumer Protection Act adopted in September 1995 had led to major improvements in legislative harmonisation in this field.

See also

Last updated: 30.12.2011

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