91999E1801

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1801/99

by David Bowe (PSE) to the Commission

(12 October 1999)

Subject: Lindane

The monograph produced by the Austrian authorities on the health and environmental effects of the pesticide lindane has been forwarded to the competent authorities of the Member States so that their views may be taken into account before the Commission brings forward a proposal on the use of this product.

Given the huge number of pesticides and other chemicals for which safety data is lacking, is the Commission happy with the present slow and cumbersome review process? How does it intend to speed up this process without lowering safety standards?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-1801/99 and E-1802/99 given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(15 November 1999)

For the current state of the examination of the dossier concerning lindane, the Commission would refer to its answer to Written Question E-154/99 of Mrs Pollack(1).

The Commission will follow the procedures established in Commission Regulation (EEC) 3600/92 of 11 December 1992 laying down the detailed rules for the implementation of the first stage of the programme of work referred to in Article 8(2) of Council Directive 91/0414/EEC concerning the placing

of plant protection products on the market(2) and will as soon as possible, and after all consultations are finalized, forward a proposal to the standing committee on plant health. This may require a review of the classification and labelling of lindane under Directive 67/0548/EEC of 27 June 1967 on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances(3).

A lot of progress has been made since the adoption of Directive 91/0414/EEC of 15 July 1991(4), in particular the development of implementing legislation, technical background documents and confidence building between Member States. The Commission however shares the view that the review process should be speeded up.

Therefore a new strategy, within the possibilities for Commission action provided in Directive 91/0414/EEC, is under discussion. It is expected that this would result by the end of 1999 in the adoption of further implementing measures for the review of the remaining existing active substances. The Commission has no intention to lower the safety standards of the Directive.

(1) OJ C 325, 12.11.1999, p. 76.

(2) OJ L 366, 15.12.1992.

(3) OJ L 196, 16.8.1967.

(4) OJ L 230, 19.8.1991.