The Guide to the implementation of directives based on the New Approach and the Global Approach (the ‘Blue Guide’) was first published in 2000 as a replacement for an earlier document known as the Vade Mecum.
A new version was published on-line at the end of last month. Much of the older text remains but there are some new chapters on matters such as the obligations of economic operators and the chapters on standardisation and market surveillance (among others) have been revised.
The Guide also has an updated name, the snazzier ‘Blue Guide’ on the implementation of EU products rules 2016.
The document is intended to improve understanding of EU product rules and help make their application more consistent across different sectors and throughout the single market. As with previous incarnations, there is a caveat that in the event of a difference in interpretation only the text of the legislation itself has legal force and a binding interpretation of EU legislation can only be issued by the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Nonetheless it is a valuable source of information for everyone trying to understand how to comply with EU legislation.