28.11.2001 Official Journal of the European Communities L 311/67 DIRECTIVE 2001/83/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 6 November 2001 on the Community code relating to medicinal products for human use THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 95 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission; Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (1), Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (3), Whereas: (1) Council Directive 65/65/EEC of 26 January 1965 on the approximation of provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action relating to medicinal products (*), Council Directive 75/318/EEC of 20 May 1975 on the approximation of the laws of Member States relating to analytical, pharmaco-toxicological and clinical standards and protocols in respect of the testing of proprietary medicinal products (*), Council Directive 75/319/EEC of 20 May 1975 on the approximation of provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action relating to proprietary medicinal products (°), Council Directive 89/342/EEC of 3 May 1989 extending the scope of Directives 65/65/EEC and 75/319/EEC and laying down additional provisions for immunological medicinal products consisting of vaccines, toxins or serums and allergens (%), Council Directive 89/343/EEC of 3 May 1989 extending the scope of Directives 65/65/EEC and 75/319/EEC and laying down additional provisions for radiopharmaceuticals (7), Council Directive 89/381/EEC of 14 June 1989 extending the scope of Directives 65/65/EEC and 75/319/EEC on the approximation of provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action relating to medicinal products and laying down special provisions for proprietary medicinal products derived from human blood or human plasma (8), Council Directive 92/25/EEC of 31 March (') O] C 368, 20.12.1999, p. 3. (®) Opinion of the European Parliament of 3 July 2001 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and Council Decision of 27 September 2001. () OJ 22, 9.2.1965, p. 369/65. Directive as last amended by Directive 93/39/EEC (O] L 214, 24.8.1993, p. 22). ( O] L 147, 9.6.1975, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Commission Directive 1999/83/EC (OJ L 243, 15.9.1999, p. 9). () O] L 147, 9.6.1975, p. 13. Directive as last amended by Commission Directive 2000/38/EC (OJ L 139, 10.6.2000, p. 28). (©) OJ L 142, 25.5.1989, p. 14. () O] L 142, 25.5.1989, p. 16. (%) OJ L 181, 28.6.1989, p. 44. ( ( ( ( ( distribution of medicinal products for human wuse (°), Council Directive 92/26/EEC of 31 March 1992 concerning the classification for the supply of medicinal products for human use (19, Council Directive 92/27/EEC of 31 March 1992 on the labelling of medicinal products for human use and on package leaflets (!!), Council Directive 92[28/EEC of 31 March 1992 on the advertising of medicinal products for human use (12), Council Directive 92[73/EEC of 22 September 1992 widening the scope of Directives 65/65/EEC and 75/319/EEC on the approximation of provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action relating to medicinal products and laying down additional provisions on homeopathic ~medicinal products (*) have been frequently and substantially amended. In the interests of clarity and rationality, the said Directives should therefore be codified by assembling them in a single text. 1992 on the wholesale 2)  The essential aim of any rules governing the production, distribution and use of medicinal products must be to safeguard public health. 3)  However, this objective must be attained by means which will not hinder the development of the pharmaceutical industry or trade in medicinal products within the Community. 4)  Trade in medicinal products within the Community is hindered by disparities between certain national provisions, in particular between provisions relating to medicinal ~ products  (excluding  substances  or combinations of substances which are foods, animal feeding-stuffs or toilet preparations), and such disparities directly affect the functioning of the internal market. 5)  Such hindrances must accordingly be removed; whereas this entails approximation of the relevant provisions. 6) In order to reduce the disparities which remain, rules should be laid down on the control of medicinal products and the duties incumbent upon the Member States' competent authorities should be specified with a view to ensuring compliance with legal requirements. %) OJ L 113, 30.4.1992, p. 1. 0 19 OJ L 113, 30.4.1992, p. 5. ) ') OJ L 113, 30.4.1992, p. 8. 12) OJ L 113, 30.4.1992, p. 13. ) 13 OJ L 297, 13.10.1992, p. 8.