Opinion on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision introducing a Community system of information on home and leisure accidents (1) (94/C 195/18)

On 6 April 1994 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Article 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the abovementioned proposal.

The Economic and Social Committee instructed the Section for Protection of the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Affairs to prepare its work on the subject. In the course of its work, the Committee appointed Miss Maddocks as Rapporteur-General (Articles 18 and 46 of the Rules of Procedure).

At its 315th Plenary Session (meeting of 27 April 1994), the Economic and Social Committee unanimously adopted the following Opinion.

1. Introduction

1.1. Under Council decision 81/623/EEC of 23 July 1981 (2), a pilot experiment was instigated relating to a community system of information on accidents involving products outside the areas of occupational activities and road traffic.

1.2. Council decision 86/138/EEC of 22 April 1986 (3), established a demonstration project to exist for five years and under Council decision 90/534/EEC (4) the original decision was amended which, inter alia, extended the project from five to six years.

1.3. When the demonstration project was completed, an assessment was made based on reports from Member States. As a result of the information obtained, it was proposed that a new system be established for five years and re-examined before the end of 1994. In May 1993 (5), the Committee delivered its opinion on the proposal (6).

1.4. In October 1993, the proposal was adopted by the Council but 'due to specific reasons', only for one year. It is now proposed that there be a decision to cover four years.

2. General comments

2.1. Whilst accepting that the Community system of information on home and leisure accidents can only supply general indications for planning safety measures, the Committee welcomes the proposal to seek more coordinated national methodologies, so that the conclusions of member states have more relevance to each other and to any proposed Community initiatives.

2.2. However, it is still unclear how this objective can be achieved when the basis of the source of the information is not the same pattern in all 12 countries, i.e. in nine countries the main source of the information is hospitals, whilst in three countries it is household surveys.

2.3. There needs to be a strong cross-link established between the proposed system and the measures against dangerous products laid down by the Product Safety Directive, as this could improve consumer protection in the Community. It is to be regretted that Product Safety Committees, or their equivalent, do not exist in all Member States, and the Council is therefore requested to recommend that such Committees be established as soon as possible and that the situation be monitored.

3. Specific comments

3.1. Article 1

3.1.1. First paragraph

The Committee welcomes the proposal to extend the Community system of information on home and leisure accidents for a period of four years.

3.1.2. Annex 1

The Committee notes the objective of trying to improve coordination of methodologies between Member States' systems of collecting statistics on this subject, but still is of the opinion that the fact that in nine countries the system of obtaining data is based mainly on hospitals, whilst in three countries it is based on household surveys, would prevent the most effective use being made of the information available. This Committee is of the view that the basis of the investigation should be in compliance with hospital data.

3.1.3. Second paragraph

The stated objective, i.e. promoting accident prevention, improving the safety of consumer products and informing and educating consumers, is supported; however, the Committee would stress again that this should serve to establish a minimum basis for appropriate action to be taken by Member States.

3.1.4. In its opinion on the proposal from the Commission to establish the 'system' (see paragraph 1.3), the Committee reiterated an earlier request that a more precise definition be formulated than the term 'consumer products', and this request is now repeated.

3.2. Article 2

3.2.1. First paragraph

The Committee supports the objectives of the Commission to make the best and most effective use of the information available, but there does not appear to be any indication on how action taken by Member States in relation to accident prevention will be monitored.

3.3. Article 3

3.3.1. Third paragraph

The Committee is pleased to learn of the emphasis now being placed on the dissemination of information on home and leisure accidents as widely as possible, particularly to consumers. But this Committee would also like to be reassured that professional associations and manufacturers would also be receiving this information.

3.4. Article 5

3.4.1. The Commission will be drawing up an assessment report on the operation of the system and, where appropriate, proposals to amend it in 1996, and a final report on the implementation and effectiveness of the system by 31 december 1997. Both reports will be submitted to this Committee.

Done at Brussels, 27 April 1994.

The Chairman

of the Economic and Social Committee

Susanne TIEMANN

(1) OJ No C 104, 12. 4. 1994, p. 15.

(2) OJ No L 229, 13. 8. 1981.

(3) OJ No L 109, 26. 4. 1986.

(4) OJ No L 296, 27. 10. 1990.

(5) OJ No C 201, 26. 7. 1993.

(6) OJ No C 59, 2. 3. 1993