9. 6. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 142/23 COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 7 June 1988 amending Directive 79/581/EEC on consumer protection in the indication of the : prices of foodstuffs (88/31S/EEC)  ~ THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 100 a thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (*), In cooperation with the European Parliament (3), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (°), Whereas the programmes of the Community for a consumer protection and information policy (¥) provide for the estsablishment of common prmcnples for indicating prices ; Whereas Council Directive 79/581/EEC of 19 June 1979 on consumer protection in the indication of the prices of foodstuffs (*) requires the Council to take a decision on conditions for applying the obligation to indicate the unit price of foodstuffs pre-packaged in pre-established quantities and at the same time it lays down the categories of foodstuffs whcih may be exempted from this requirement ; Whereas it is important to adopt measures with the aim of progressively establishing the internal market over a period expiring on 31 December 1992 at the latest; Whereas the Council resolution of 19 June 1979 on the indication of prices of foodstuffs and non-food household products pre-packaged in pre-established quantities (%) lists the criteria that ranges of quantities must satisfy to qualify for exemption from unit-pricing ; - Whereas, by establishing simple and easily comparable quantity ranges, the standardization of quantities of pre-packaged foodstuffs is likely to make it easier for the consumer to compare prices at the place of sale ; whereas the obligation to display the unit price should, wherever possible, be replaced by such standardization ; ()0jNoCS3 24.2.1984,p.7 and OJ No C 121, 7. 5. 1987, p. ® OJ No C 122, 20. 5. 1985, p. 148 and Decision of 18 May 1988 (not yet pubhshed in the Official Journal). () OJ No C 343, 24. 12. 1984, p. 34. ¢ OJ No C 92, 25. 4. 1975, p. 2 and OJ No C 133, 3. 6. 1981, p. 5)0] No L 158, 26. 6. 1979, p. 19. () OJ No C 163, 30. 6. 1979, p. 1. Whereas ranges of quantities for pre-packaged products are laid down by Directive 80/232/EEC of 15 January 1980 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the ranges of nominal quantities and nominal capacities permitted for certain pre-packaged products (), as amended by Directive 86/96/EEC (%), Council Directive 75/106/EEC of 19 December 1974 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making-up by volume of certain pre-packaged liquids (’), as last amended by Directive 85/10/EEC (*%), Council Directive 73/241/EEC of 24 July 1973 on the apporximation of the laws of the Member States relating to cocoa and chocolate products intended for human consumption ('), as last amended by Directive 85/7/EEC (*), Council Directive 73/437/EEC of 11 December 1973 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning certain sugars intended for human consumption (), as last amended by the Act of Accession of Spain and Portugal ('¥), and Council Directive 77/436/EEC of 27 June 1977 on the approxi- mation of the laws of the Member States relating to coffee extracts and chicory extracts ('), as last amended by Directive 85/573/EEC (*); Whereas the standardization achieved at Community level to eliminate technical barriers to trade helps to simplify the ranges of quantities of foodstuffs offered to the. consumer ; whereas provision should be made for the exemption of ranges of quantities established at Community level ; . Whereas, for certain categories of foodstuffs, standard- ization at Comimunity level is not appropriate ; whereas, in the case of such foodstuffs, provision should be made for the exemption of ranges of quantities established at national level ; Whereas the obligation to indicate the unit price may be waived by Member States for products in respect of which such indication would be meaningless ; Wherea the rules laid down in this Directive are aimed at informing and' protecting consumers, () OJ No L 51, 25. 2. 1980, p. 1. () OJ No L 80, 25. 3. 1986, p. 5. () OJ No L 42, 15. 2. 1975, p. 1. (% OJ No L 4, 5. 1. 1985, p. 20. (") OJ No L 228, 16. 8. 1973, p. 23. (?) O] No L 2, 3. 1. 1985, p. 22. (%) OJ No L 356, 27. 12. 1973, p. 71. () OJ No L 302, 15. 11. 1985, p. 23. (") O] No L 172, 12. 7. 1977, p. 20. (9 OJ No L 372, 31. 12. 1985, p. 22.