WRITTEN QUESTION E-2348/01

by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 August 2001)

Subject: Risk Assessment Report

Taking into account that the results of a significant research programme on zinc and zinc chemicals is not due to be finished until the end of 2002, and that this research is due to render many of the defaults and assumptions used in the draft RAR unsustainable and lead to an altering of the conclusions of the RAR on both health and environment issues, taking into account that completion dates for the draft RAR are changing regularly and are now expected prematurely between 17 and 21 September 2001, despite there being several unresolved issues, taking into account that the premature closing off of the RAR brings with it the strong possibility of incorrect outcomes, risks a serious waste of EU resources and will cause the risk assessment process to be questioned, I would like firstly to ask the Commission why the Zinc RAR is being pushed forward prematurely for completion and secondly, what are the reasons for prematurely closing off discussion on the zinc dossiers before the research results are delivered and the key outstanding issues are resolved?

Joint answerto Written Questions E-2082/01, E-2127/01, E-2348/01 and P-2681/01given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(29 October 2001)

The six zinc compounds undergoing risk assessment following Council Regulation (EEC) No. 793/93 of 23 March 1993 on the evaluation and control of the risks of existing substances, were prioritised on 27 September 1995. The first draft risk assessment reports (RAR) were submitted by the Dutch authorities, acting as Member State Rapporteur, to the Community Technical Meeting in December 1999. Over the last decade, extensive discussions between the Dutch Institute Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (RIVM) acting as Rapporteur and zinc industry have taken place, and the output has been considered in the reports.

In comparison with other priority substances assessed under the Council Regulation (EEC) No. 793/93 on the evaluation and control of the risks of existing substances, the procedure for completing the risk assessment for the six zinc compounds is not in anyway accelerated and there has never been the intention to close the discussions without taking into account ongoing research that could affect the conclusions.

At the Technical Meeting in September 2001, after an extensive discussion on the new draft reports, Member States experts agreed that especially on the issue of the emissions from zinc to soil and the bioavailability of this released zinc in the soil, specific information needs could be identified that might affect some of the conclusions regarding the risks of this substance. Therefore, in line with the usual procedure under this Regulation, the meeting agreed on a conclusion (i) there is a need for further information and/or testing, and agreed on a deadline of 18 months from September 2001 to obtain this information. After this deadline the Member State Rapporteur will incorporate the new results in the final RAR. These results and the final part of the report will then be discussed and concluded upon by the Technical Meeting.