WRITTEN QUESTION E-3097/01

by Heidi Hautala (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(13 November 2001)

Subject: Transitional period for the introduction of dioxin limits in Finland

The Commission has proposed, with good reason, that levels of dioxin exposure from food in the European Union should be reduced. The proposed limits would require Baltic herring and salmon to be banned for

human consumption. This would radically affect the eating habits of the elderly in Finland. Dioxins are known to be more harmful to young people and children; however, people in these age groups eat considerably less fish. Fish is a major source of vitamin D, which is vital to health, and fish fat is much healthier, for example, than the fat in cheap sausages. If the elderly were to switch from cheap fish to cheap sausage products, this could be very damaging to their health. Banning the sale of Baltic herring and salmon for human consumption would also deprive fishermen of their livelihood.

Dioxins are bound to sediment at the bottom of the Baltic Sea, but the condition of the sea is known to be improving rapidly. The change will be reflected in fish-stocks with a delay of 10-20 years. Will the Commission consider granting Finland a derogation from the limits on dioxins in fish, for example for a transitional period of ten years, during which time trawling could be so directed as to ensure that the safest fish from the point of view of health were caught and so that dioxin levels and emission sources in EU waters and fish could be surveyed?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(21 January 2002)

The Commission is aware of the possible consequences of the measures on maximum levels for fish on the availability of Baltic fish for the population of Finland and Sweden.

Following a proposal presented by the Commission on 28 August 2001(1), the Council adopted on 29 November 2001(2) a Council Regulation amending Commission Regulation (EC) No 466/2001 of 8 March 2001, setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs(3). This Regulation establishes maximum levels for dioxins and furans in several foodstuffs, including fish and fishery products and products thereof.

For a temporary period ending in 2006, the Council granted Finland and Sweden a derogation from the application of the maximum levels for fish originating from the Baltic region intended for consumption in their territory.

The Commission accepted this derogation taking into account the following elements:

- a significant part of the Baltic fatty fish will not comply with the maximum level and would thus be excluded from the Swedish and Finnish diet;

- exclusion of fish from the diet may have a negative health impact in Sweden and Finland because:

- Baltic fish is the main source of vitamin D among the elderly in these countries. Intake of vitamin D is of major importance in the Northern regions with low solar light;

- Baltic fish would be replaced by cheaper cuts of meat, containing high levels of hard fats which increase the risk of cardiovascular disease;

- total human exposure to dioxins in Finland and Sweden is not higher than in other European countries;

- Finland and Sweden have a system in place ensuring that consumers are fully informed of the dietary recommendations concerning restrictions on consumption of Baltic fish by identified vulnerable groups of the population in order to avoid potential health risks;

- Finland and Sweden will intensively monitor the presence of dioxins in fish from the Baltic region and report each year the results and the measures taken to reduce human exposure to dioxins from fish from the Baltic region.

(1) COM(2001) 495 final.

(2) OJ L 321, 6.12.2001.

(3) OJ L 77, 16.3.2001.