91997E2826

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2826/97 by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Commission (1 September 1997)

Subject: PVC

What is the view of the Commission as to the safety of the use of PVC as a building material?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann au nom de la Commission (25 September 1997)

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is widely used as a building material, for applications such as window frames, pipes, floor and wall coverings and cables. Building applications account for over half of the Community PVC market (55 % in 1995).

PVC products used in construction, as for those products manufactured with any other material, must meet the applicable technical regulations on safety. The fact that the material used is PVC and not any other material does not make a difference in this respect.

The Honourable Member may be interested to know that the Commission is committed to consider the evidence regarding the environmental aspects relating to the presence of PVC in waste streams and, on the basis of this evidence, will review its policy regarding PVC in waste streams and will come forward with proposals to address problems which may arise in this regard, where this is justified on environmental or health grounds.