WRITTEN QUESTION E-0513/03

by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(24 February 2003)

Subject: Scrap wood and dioxin in meat

The incineration of scrap wood in a drying plant in Erfurt (Germany) appears to be the cause of the presence of dioxin in cattle transport and meat.

A great deal of wood and wood products are treated and impregnated to increase their durability. For this purpose chlorinated hydrocarbons are often used.

When the treated wood (building waste and scrap wood) is burnt, dioxin is produced.

Is the Commission prepared to curb the incineration of scrap wood and impregnated wood and to permit this incineration method only in specialised treatment plants, thus prohibiting it from having an effect on the food chain?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 2003)

Incineration of waste, including the incineration of scrap wood is regulated by Council Directive 75/442/EEC of 15 July 1975 on waste(1), Council Directive 91/689/EEC of 12 December 1991 on hazardous waste(2), and by Directive 2000/76/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 4 December 2000 on the incineration of waste(3).

Directive 75/442/EC lays down in its Article 4 the general principle that Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure waste is recovered or disposed of without endangering human health and without using processes or methods which would harm the environment. Furthermore, this Directive provides for establishments or undertakings treating waste to be permitted or under certain conditions to be subject to general rules adopted by Member States.

Directive 91/689/EEC defines hazardous waste and adds more stringent provisions concerning permitting of facilities managing hazardous wastes. Commission Decision 2000/532/EC containing the European list of waste classifies wood containing or contaminated with hazardous substances as hazardous waste.

Additionally, as regards incineration of wood waste which may contain halogenated compounds or heavy metals as a result of treatment with wood-preservatives or coating, Directive 2000/76/EC on the incineration of waste determines stringent operational conditions and emission limit values. This Directive has entered into force for new facilities in 2002 and will enter into force for existing facilities in 2005. In the meantime, Council Directive 94/67/EC of 16 December 1994 on the incineration of hazardous waste(4) is applicable.

Installations who burn more than 10 tonnes hazardous wastes a day are subject to Council Directive 96/61/EC of 24 September 1996 concerning integrated pollution prevention and control(5). These installations need to operate in a way that all appropriate preventive measures are taken into account against pollution, in particular by applying best available techniques (BAT). BAT means not only the technology used but as well issues such as proper maintenance. It entered into effect for new and substantially changed installations in October 1999. For the remaining installations it will apply in full in October 2007.

Furthermore, as regards legislation applying to feed, the introduction of the system of hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) in the feed producing chain which is in the process of being proposed by the Commission will also reduce the risk of contamination.

The Commission considers that proper implementation of these measures will ensure that incineration of waste wood takes place without negative impact on human health and the environment.

(1) OJ L 194, 25.7.1975.

(2) OJ L 377, 31.12.1991.

(3) OJ L 332, 28.12.2000.

(4) OJ L 365, 31.12.1994.

(5) OJ L 257, 10.10.1996.