91999E2137

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2137/99

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(24 November 1999)

Subject: Ban on BADGE and BFDGE used as paints for tins

The Belgian federation has recently withdrawn from sale tins of sardines and tuna because of the possibly harmful effect of the chemical paint used for coating the tins.

Analyses conducted by the consumer organisation Test-Aankoop show that 50-65 % of the food in the tins investigated had been polluted with the chemical substances BADGE (biphenol-A-dyglycidylether) and BFDGE (biphenol-F-dyglycidylether).

BADGE is used as the innermost coating in tins. BFDGE is related to BADGE but may not be used on substances which come into contract with food. Nevertheless, Test-Aankoop found traces of BFDGE in 65 % of the tins analysed.

Given that imports of tins of sardines and tuna are not confined to the Belgian federation:

1. Is the Commission aware of similar BADGE and/or BFDGE problems in the other Member States of the European Union? If so, what action has been taken to remove contaminated food from shops? If not, will the Commission request Member States to carry out careful checks on the presence of BADGE and/or BFDGE in tinned food?

2. Is the Commission drafting a directive banning BADGE and BFDGE as innermost coating for tins? If so, what is the main thrust of this directive? If not, is the Commission prepared to issue a ban on the use of BADGE and BFDGE as coating layers for tins containing food, in the light of the carcinogenic effect of the two substances?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(2 December 1999)

The Commission is conducting a detailed investigation of the problem raised by the Honourable Member and will inform him of the outcome as soon as possible.