91998E3344

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3344/98

by Graham Mather (PPE) to the Commission

(16 November 1998)

Subject: "Chemicals in the European Environment" - EEA publication

The European Environment Agency recently published its report entitled "Chemicals in the European Environment: Low doses, high stakes".

Can the Commission please comment on this report and indicate what action it proposes to take as a result of it?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(7 January 1999)

The Commission welcomes the European environment agency's report "chemicals in the European environment: low doses, high stakes" as a contribution to the debate about chemicals which is an issue of public concern.

In response to this concern the Commission has already commenced a stock-taking of the existing Community legislation on industrial chemicals. In November 1998 the Commission reported on the evaluation of the operation of the four main Community legislative instruments (Council Directive 67/548/EEC on the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances(1), Council Directive 88/379/EEC on the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous preparations(2), Council Regulation (EEC) 793/93 on the evaluation and control of the risks of existing substances(3) and Council Directive 76/769/EEC on restrictions on the marketing and use of certain dangerous substances and preparations(4)) governing industrial chemicals, examining the effectiveness and efficiency of the four instruments in terms of their specific objectives, which cover protection of human health and the environment in the context of the internal market, an assessment of the operational weaknesses and recommendations for improvement(5).

The Commission intends to proceed with a brainstorming with Member States, industry, consumers, environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and scientists; and with the preparation of a Commission communication, which is on the Commission work programme for 1999. This will set out the strategy for the future, including possible legislative options. It should be noted that the Commission will also start a SLIM (simplification of the legislation for the internal market) exercise at the beginning of 1999 concerning Directive 67/548/EEC.

Additionally, in October 1998 the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA) launched an initiative to fill the data gaps (hazard identification and assessment) on "existing" chemicals. The European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) is committed to the ICCA initiative, which aims to provide initial risk assessments for 1 000 substances by the year 2004. In the Community, CEFIC will be working in close co-operation with the Commission and Member States.

(1) OJ L 196, 16.8.1967.

(2) OJ L 187, 16.7.1988.

(3) OJ L 84, 5.4.1993.

(4) OJ L 262, 27.9.1976.

(5) SEC(98) 1986 final.