91999E2399

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2399/99

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(16 December 1999)

Subject: Cleaning up the legacy of asbestos pollution in the European Union

The use of asbestos fibres has been banned since 1997 because of the risk to public health. This legacy of pollution therefore needs to be disposed of as rapidly and as efficiently as possible. A detailed inventory of asbestos and clear directives on disposal are of the utmost importance in this respect.

1. Does the Commission have an accurate and detailed inventory of the historical use of asbestos in the 15 EU Member States on the basis of sales figures of the asbestos producers? If not, will the Commission set about creating such an inventory so that disposal can be carried out rapidly and efficiently in the near future?

2. How much asbestos was produced and used in the European Union in 1997?

3. In the Commission's opinion, in how many factories was asbestos used?

4. In the Commission's opinion, in how many office buildings was asbestos used?

5. In the Commission's opinion, in how many homes was asbestos used?

6. In the Commission's opinion, in how many school buildings was asbestos used?

7. In the Commission's opinion, which buildings need to be cleaned up as a matter of priority?

8. What directives has the Commission drafted to achieve a rapid and efficient disposal of the legacy of asbestos pollution?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(3 March 2000)

The marketing and use of five of the six different types of asbestos have been banned in the Community since 1991. On 26 July 1999, the Commission adopted Directive 1999/77/EC of 26 July 1999 adapting to technical progress for the sixth time Annex I to Council Directive 76/769/EEC on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to restrictions on the marketing and use of certain dangerous substances and preparations (asbestos)(1) which extends this ban to all types of asbestos from 1 January 2005 at the latest. There are only very limited exceptions to this ban, and these will be reviewed by the Commission before 1 January 2003. This Directive should prevent any increase in the stock of asbestos in the Community.

The Commission does not have a detailed inventory of the use of asbestos in the Member States.

The Commission does not have the information requested in items 2-7 of the Honourable Member's questions.

Asbestos waste is subject to general waste legislation, namely Council Directive 75/442/EEC of 15 July 1975 on waste(2) (as modified). Furthermore, asbestos waste constitutes hazardous waste under Council Directive 91/689/EEC of 12 December 1991(3) when it is contained in insulation materials present in construction and demolition waste. Council Directive 87/217/EEC of 19 March 1987 on the prevention and reduction of environmental pollution by asbestos(4) contains some basic rules as regards the removal and disposal of asbestos waste. Those provisions do not require a rapid and efficient disposal of such asbestos waste.

(1) OJ L 207, 6.8.1999.

(2) OJ L 194, 25.7.1975.

(3) OJ L 377, 31.12.1991.

(4) OJ L 85, 28.3.1987.