91999E2504

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2504/99

by Astrid Thors (ELDR) to the Commission

(22 December 1999)

Subject: New toxic substances harmful to the environment discovered in food

According to an article in the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter of 11 October 1999, Swedish scientists have found a new substance that is harmful to the environment and causes cancer. Brominated flame retardants (TeBDE) from discarded electrical domestic appliances are now found in high concentrations in herring and Baltic herring. The concentrations are still low in meat, butter and cheese, but the discovery is alarming for two reasons; firstly the concentrations will increase as fast as PCBs, and secondly, the toxins from the flame retardants must be added together with other substances that are harmful to the environment, such as PCBs, so that the total health risk can be estimated.

Is the Commission aware of this new discovery, and does it intend to take any action regarding the matter?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(25 February 2000)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the answers to written questions E-3004/98 by Mr Eisma(1), P-1976/99 by Mrs Schörling(2) and to the oral question H-776/99 by Mrs Schörling during question time at Parliament's December 1999 part-session(3).

Furthermore, following the submission of a memorandum from Denmark and Sweden, a discussion took place at the Environment Council on 13 December 1999 about the need for urgent Community measures in respect of brominated flame retardants.

In this context the Commission recalled that comprehensive risk assessments on three brominated flame retardants, undertaken in accordance with Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 on the evaluation and control of the risks of existing substances(4), are currently underway. When the risk assessment reports are finalised they will be presented for independent peer-review to the scientific committee for toxicity, ecotoxicity and the environment.

The member of the Commission responsible for the Environment wrote on 15 December 1999 to the ministers of the Member States responsible to urge completion of the risk assessments as soon as possible.

Once the reports have been finalised, the Commission will publish the results in the Official journal and propose further risk reduction measures, if necessary.

Given that increased concentrations of five polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) congeners have been found in the blood of workers at recycling plants and that future Community legislation on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) will increase significantly the recycling of PBDE containing plastics, the substitution of these brominated flame retardants in the production of new electrical and electronic equipment is currently discussed within the Commission.

(1) OJ C 142, 21.5.1999.

(2) OJ C 203 E, 18.7.2000, p. 101.

(3) Debates of the European Parliament (December 1999).

(4) OJ L 84, 5.4.1993.