Document Mo0ZdJ8g2Xpwa3nL0X1V9R7B9

SENT BY:ALLIEDSIGNAL EUROPE ;26- 6-96 ; 11:54 ; +32 (0)16 400874- 810 827 5050;# 1/ 2 24. 6. 96 EN Official Journal of rhe European Communities No C 183/39 I TELEFAX H a&A DATUM/DATE: 24/.4/3C- AANTAL PAG-/NBR PAQES i . AAM/TO/A: Jjl___ / JgfcL CHfrfc1 VAN/PROM/bE! <U*v Cm ________ t_J Answer given by Mrj on behalf of the Cony (22 April 199 1 BCTRySUBJ^COMC.: yV-nn. iw Eu V *1 (Aft ---------- -- As regards consultative arrangements with representatives of che sector, the consultative Committee of Cooperatives, Mutual Societies, Associations and Foundations in the Community was set up in November .1994- Trig an external committee, hue receives the financial and pra/tical support and cooperation of the Commission. It will culiver opinions on matters of common concern amy evaluate die implementation of the Commission's wo^k"programme. Most of che cooperative sectors are also represented on standing committees concerned with their specific area of work, for inscance in commerce, qSnsumer affairs and agriculture. <>) OJ No C 236, 31. 8. 1993. (2) OJ No C 87, 24. 3. 1994. Commission is collecting vie information it needs to ir the question. It will otummmicarc its findings as as possible. WRITTEN QUESTION P-591/96 by Daaici lxret (NI) to the Commission (1 March 1996) (96/C 183/74) Subject: Banning asbestos For some time now there have been reports in the news of (he damaging effects of asbestos which, if inhaled, can over the long term lead to diseases such as mesothelioma or fibrosis, which can be fatal. / WRITTEN QUESTION F.-S61/96 by Mgry KanOtti (PPE) to/the Commission (/1 March 1996) (96/C 183/73) Subject: Public/relations activities The Commission has shown, that it is particularly aware of this danger since ir has chosen to cany out a major, expensive operation to strip docking insulation from the Berlaymont building, which housed thousands of officials for over 30 years. Epidemiologists claim that asbestos kills between 2 000 and 3 000 people a year in a country such as France, the leading user of asbestos in Europe and one of the world's largest producers of this dangerous mineral. They claim that this figure will increase five-fold by che year 2010 unless draconian measures are taken in the short term. For each of yhc last five years how many Restricted Offers for public reA.-itinns programmes were sought for work to be carried our other than in Brussels? Also, for each of the last live years: 1. How many tenders were sought: as restricted oilers? as unrestricted offers? <2. How many results in a contract, for supply of public relations services (i.c. not goods)?3 3. I low many contracts were awarded to the same body corporate? Most Member States, such as Get many, Italy, Denmark and the Netherlands, no longer use asbestos. In the circumstances, and in view of the fact that asbest os is a recognized, major risk for the health of European citizens, can rhe Commission explain why ir has nor yet proposed a Directive on banning the use of asbestos in public buildings and in the manufacture of domestic goods in everyday Such a measure, which is broadly supported by tnosr national authorities and the general public, could be envisaged if it were implemented on the basis of the principle of sulwidiarity. Has the Commission yielded to the scientific disinformation campaigns mounted by powerful lobby groups, in particular the `Standing Committee on Asbestos' (SCA)? HWBUI0003701 SENT BY .'ALL I EDS IGNAL EUROPE ;26- 6-96 ; 11:55 ; +32 (0)16 400874- 810 827 5050;# 2/ 2 No C 183/40 | EN | Official Journal of the European Communities 24. 6. 96 Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (28 March 1996) possibility of extending the existing Community ban ro cover those chrysotile-eontaining products still on the market. The Commission is guided in its work on dangerous substances and specifically on dangerous fibres by the All asbestos fibres are classified by Commission Directive 91/632/EEC (') as category 1 carcinogens. In other words, principles of risk analysis and risk reduction and acts independently of any campaigns. all may cause cancer in man and must be labelled. (!) OJ No L 338, 10. 12. 1991. (*) OJ No 1.262, 27. 9. 1976. In view of the hazards, asbestos and products containing asbescos arc subject to controls. These controls, which are set down in a series of Directives, apply to marketing and (3) OJ No L 263, 24. 9. 1983(*) OJ No L 375, 31. 12. 1985. F) OJ No I, 36.3, 31. 12. 1991. F) Of No 196, 16. 8. 1967. use, the workplace and the environment. Council Directive 76/769/EEC (*) is the framework Directive for limiting the marketing and use of dangerous substances and preparations. Controls on the marketing and use of asbestos have been introduced by Council Directive 8.3M 78/EEC (3) (Fifth amendment of Directive 76/769/EEC), by Council Directive 85/610/EEC (*) (scvcnch amendment of Directive76/769/EEC) and by Commission Directive 91/659/EEC(s) WRITTEN QUESTION F.-S9S/96 (first adaptation to technical progress of Directive by Anita Pollack (PSE) ! 76/769/EF.C). The effect of these Directives is to: to the Commission . (11 March 1996) i -- ban the marketing and use of five of the six asbescos I fibres and of products containing them; 196/C 183/75) -- ban the use of chrysotilc asbestos, the only fibre not yet totally banned, in 14 categories of products; -- etablish mandatory labelling requirements for chrysotilc and products containing it. According to this policy products containing chrysolite which do nor feature on the banned list and which are correctly labelled may he freely marketed and used. Seven Member States apply to chrysodle and chrysorilc-containing products rules which go further than the Community legislation. Whilst this leads to a certain distortion of the internal market there does not seem to be sufficient support in the Council lo extend the ban provided by the Community legislation. The Commission and most Member States believe that the first priority is ro adopt a classification for die 11011-asbestos fibres which may also be hazardous when used as substitutes for asbestos. Subject: Hormone replacement therapy Is the Commission aware that the oestrogen replacement drug Prcmarin sold widely throughout Europe and with a laboratory based in Maidenhead, Berkshire, UK, is made from pregnanr marc's urine and collected by confining artificially impregnated mares for lengthy periods of time? What is the Commission's response to growing public dismay that this system lias similarities to the veal crate system we ari- now preparing to phaseout and many women who take (he medication arc unaware of how it is produced? Answer given by Mr Fischlcr on behalf of the Commission (22 April 1996) The Commission is working closely with national experts on possible classifications within die framework of Directive 67/548/EEC t*) for ceramic fibres, glass fibres and insulation wools- Once such classifications have been established, the Commission will study the risks from use of these fibres, including the risks where they are used as substitutes for asbestos. It will then be in a position to rc-opcn the asbestos debate and consider afresh the The Commission would refer the Honourable Member ro iis answer to Written Question E-l 770/94 by Mr Hughes ('). (>) OJ No C 75, 27. A. 1995. HWBUI0003702