News During the recent World Watch, Clock and Jewellery Show in Basel, representatives from various European and Asian watch associations held a co-ordination meeting. They used the occasion to express their concerns about developments in European legislation.
Following their first-ever meeting in 1999, representatives from the main watch associations got together again this year in Basel on 24 March. The meeting was chaired by Mr. François Habersaat, president of the FH and the European Permanent Watch Committee (CPHE), and attended by delegates from the following associations: the CPHE (Italy, Great Britain, France and Germany), the FH, the Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers' Association, the Federation of the Hong Kong Watch Trade Industry, the Japan Clock & Watch Association, the Horological Association of the People's Republic of China and the Korea Watch and Clock Industry Cooperative. Unfortunately, the delegation from the American Watch Association had to excuse itself at the last minute.
The delegations first reiterated their concerns about customs duties, which are still very high in the watch sector. While most of the associations want them lowered (Switzerland, Japan, and Hong Kong), certain differences remain in their approach to the problem. Several delegations, for example, feel that a lowering of tariffs should be required before any reciprocal reductions are made (representatives of European Union countries). It was agreed that the associations would appeal to their respective governments so that the WTO (World Trade Organisation) would continue to look into this sensitive issue.
The European directive on the disposal of electrical and electronic goods worries the representatives because the draft law is likely to pose some serious problems, particularly setting up the separate collection of used products and the possible cost of such a system. The participants were also concerned about the planned marking regulations. Marking on the product itself, they felt, must be avoided at all costs. The associations will continue their discussions with the European Union. The French representative pointed out that the project is even controversial within the EU itself.
As for the CITES certificates required for trade in the skins of protected animals (for crocodile straps, for example), some delegates believed that the very complicated procedure should be simplified as the animals are now all raised on farms. Several delegations, however, did not seem concerned by this matter as their industries do not use the skins of protected animals. Although really of interest only to the European delegations, the others were asked to look into the practices used in their countries.
On the other hand, all the delegations were very interested to see how the European directive on guarantees, which is introducing a minimum two-year period, would be incorporated into national laws.
Finally, Mr. François Habersaat made a quick survey of the delegations present about the state of watch training in the countries they represented. It revealed that preparing a future generation of qualified watchmakers is as much a concern in Asia as it is in Europe, but that the means used differ considerably from one country to another.
All the participants agreed on the importance of regular meetings to exchange views on matters of common interest and will most likely repeat the experience next year.
April 17, 2000