91997E3762

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3762/97 by Allan Macartney (ARE) to the Commission (21 November 1997)

Subject: Disposal of OP Sheep Dip and pollution of ground water

With reference to Commission letter P1242/90 (DGXI), what proceedings, if any, have or are being taken by the European Commission against the United Kingdom for breaching the Ground Water Directive?

In particular, is any action being taken which concerned specifically Scotland and the use of OP sheep dip resulting in pollution of ground water?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (15 January 1998)

The complaint registered under Commission file P1242/90 has been pursued under file reference 90/5242. Following supplementary correspondence with the british government under Article 169 of the EC Treaty, the Commission has decided that a reasoned opinion should be sent to the United Kingdom. This decision is currently in the course of execution.

The Commission considers that the legislative transposition in the United Kingdom (including Scotland) of Directive 80/68/EEC on the protection of groundwater against pollution caused by certain dangerous substances ((OJ L 20, 26.1.1980. )) is inadequate, in particular because prior authorization and investigation of disposal is not required in all the situations provided for in the Directive. Furthermore, it appears to the Commission that there has been inadequate application of the requirements of the Directive in relation to sheep dip disposal (including in Scotland).