The EC has presented a proposal to abolish Directives 15/106/CEE and 80/232/CEE, which concern the mandatory sizes of containers as well as the quantities they can hold. In addition, member states will not be able to take advantage of the abolition in order to impose national regulations on packaging size or capacity. In principal, the new directive will apply to containers and materials of all kinds, although mandatory sizes will remain in force for those sectors in which there is a mandatory regulation or for those in which the Commission has committed itself to re-establishing previously mandatory sizes. These are wine, for sizes below 1.5l; coffee, from 50-300g; sugar, from 250-1.5Kg; and aerosols, when these contain products other than perfumed water, hair lotions, shaving lotions and medicines. Member states have until May 2006 to apply the rules.
