BELGIUM

Inland Waterways Statute and Decree. This provides that vessels carrying goods (or pushing or towing other vessels) for gain on inland waterways which belong as to more than half to Belgians must be licensed. Operative Jan. 1, 1977.

Insurance Companies (Regulation) Decree, 1976. This brings into force certain sections of the Belgium Insurance Act 1975, and Directive 73/239/EEC. Certain foreign and EEC undertakings are exempted from the Act. The Act details the procedure for obtaining approval when undertakings plan to expand into new branches of insurance; details as to division of activities of different branches into separate “managements solvency margins; guarantee funds; amount and investment of reserves and composition of deposits; provisions relating to tariffs and contracts of insurance.

GERMANY

Product Liability—Pharmaceuticals. The German statute of Aug. 24, 1976, on pharmaceuticals is meant to regulate trade in pharmaceuticals, especially in respect to their quality and safety. It contains general provisions as to trading and empowers the Minister of Health to impose conditions for production and sale. As regards Product Liability, the Act provides that a drug coming under the Act must show the name and address of the producer; they are subject to strict labelling conditions and the producer is liable for ensuring the correct labelling and preventive leaflets. All producers of pharmaceuticals will need to be licensed and must give proof of professional knowledge and experience. Imports of drugs from non-EEC countries will be subject to special licences. There are sections dealing with Product Liability and damages, concurrent liability and limitation. The Act will enter into force in January, 1978.

HONG KONG

Hong Kong Supreme Court (Admiralty Procedure) Rules Order, 1976. SI 1777. These Rules amend Order 75 of the existing Rules along the lines of similar amendments to the Rules of the Supreme Court (England).

UNITED KINGDOM

Act of Sederunt (Rules of Court Amendment No. 11) (Consistorial Actions) 1976. SI 1994. Operative Jan. 1, 1977. Makes new provision in the rules of the Court of Session in accordance with ss. 1(4), 5(6) and 11 of the Divorce (Scotland) Act 1976, and otherwise amends and consolidates the existing rules relating to consistorial actions.

Act of Sederunt (Rules of Court Amendment No. 12) (Intimation under Damages (Scotland) Act 1976) 1976. SI 2020. Operative Dec. 22, 1976. Amends the Rules of the Court of Session to make provision for intimating to connected persons under s. 5 of the Damages (Scotland) Act 1976.

Air Navigation (General) Regulations, 1976. SI 1982. Operative Dec. 1, 1976.