92001E0389

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0389/01

by Nicholas Clegg (ELDR) to the Commission

(15 February 2001)

Subject: Regulatory impact assessments

What regulatory impact assessment studies were carried out by the European Commission prior to the presentation of the Physical Agents Directive and the Electronic Waste Directive? Could the Commission make these impact assessments available? If they do exist, why were impact assessments not carried out?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(26 March 2001)

The proposals for Directives on electric and electronic waste (WEEE) and on restriction on hazardous substances in electric and electronic waste (RoHS), have been adopted on 13 June 2000(1). An accompanying 55-page explanatory memorandum has been made available to the public(2).

This explanatory memorandum contains a detailed assessment of the justification of the proposals and reference to all the studies on which these proposals are based. Information is also contained as regards the environmental problems addressed, the internal market and international aspects, subsidiarity and proportionality aspects, economic assessment (benefits and costs) and consultation aspects as well as data and the scientific basis. The Annex to the explanatory memorandum contains, inter alia, a specific assessment of the impact of the proposals on business, with special reference to small and medium-sized enterprises, and also a memorandum on scientific evaluation.

(1) OJ C 365 E, 19.12.2000.

(2) COM(2000) 347 final.