Asforthedetectionoftwostrainsofsalmonella(DT108andDT170),thecompetentlaboratoryservices
agreethatthesestrainsarevirtuallyidenticalandhenceextremelydifficulttodifferentiate.
TheCommissionwouldliketoreiteratethatthesolepurposeoftheRapidAlertSystemistoprotectthe
healthofconsumers.TheCommissionpublishesaweeklyoverviewofalertandinformationnotificationsat(http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sfp/ras_index_en.html).CompaniesandbrandnamesdonotfigureontheselistsbutaresuppliedtothecompetentauthoritiesoftheMemberStatessoastoenablethem,wherenecessary,totaketheappropriateprotectivemeasures.
(2004/C58E/224) WRITTENQUESTIONP-2949/03
byGianGobbo(NI)totheCommission
(2October2003)
Subject:Indicationoffrozenproducts
DoestheCommissionconsiderthatitwouldbeappropriatetoadoptrulesrequiringpubliccommercial
establishmentsintheUniontoindicateclearly,forthepurposeofconsumerprotection,anyuseoffrozen
productsinthepreparationoffoodofferedtocustomers?
AnswergivenbyMrByrneonbehalfoftheCommission
(22October2003)
TheCommissiondoesnotconsiderthatitwouldbeappropriatetoobligerestaurants,canteens,etc.to
indicatetheuseoffrozenproductsinthepreparationofthefoodtheyserve,asameasureofthiskindisnotjustifiedfromafoodsafetyperspectiveinparticular.Inanycase,theadoptionofsuchmeasureswouldcomeunderthecompetenceoftheMemberStates.
However,theCommissionplanstomakeitcompulsoryforfoodssoldfrozenordefrostedtobearalabel
tothiseffect,togetherwithawarningthatthefoodinquestionshouldnotberefrozen.
(2004/C58E/225) WRITTENQUESTIONP-2951/03
byBriceHortefeux(PPE-DE)totheCommission
(2October2003)
Subject:DraftREACHregulation
The recent Internet consultation on the Commission’s draft regulation concerning the registration,
evaluationandauthorisationofchemicals(REACH)elicitedover6300contributions.
Thevastmajorityofcontributorsexpressedconcernaboutthefinancialandbureaucraticimplicationsof
thesemeasuresfortheEuropeanchemicalindustry,andalsoaboutthedamagingimpactoncompetitive-ness,employmentandEuropeanknow-how.SMEsinthechemicalindustrywillbeparticularlyaffected.The knock-on effect will mean that the economic impact on sectors downstream from the chemicalindustrywillbestronglyfeltacrosstheboard.Thecessationorrelocationofcertainproductionactivities,combinedwiththedesiretoavoidexcessiveredtapeinEuropewillleadsomeoperatorstodownsizeand/orrelocatesomeoftheirR&Dexpertiseinthelongterm.Lastly,theregistrationofpolymersonthebasisoftheoptionslaiddownbytheregulationcouldstifleinnovationinafieldwhosevibrancyisalmostunrivalled.C58E/208 EN6.3.2004 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Two independent studies have found that, if implemented in its current form, the proposal would
jeopardise1,7millionjobsinGermanyand670000jobsinFrance(betweennowand2012).
Giventhattheexpectedhealthandenvironmentalbenefitsdonotappearsufficienttojustifythethreatsto
thecompetitivenessofEurope’schemicalindustry,wouldtheCommissionbepreparedtoaskanimpartialbodytoassesstheimpactofthisnewlegislationbeforeitisformallypresented?
AnswergivenbyMrLiikanenonbehalfoftheCommission
(24October2003)
TheCommissionproposalsfortheimplementationofthenewstrategyonchemicalswillbeaccompanied
byanimpactassessmentwhichwilladdresstheestimatedcostsandbenefitsofthesystem.Theestimateswillbeunderpinnedmainlybytheresultsofacomprehensivestudycarriedoutbyanexternalconsultantfocusingonthedirectcostsofthesystem.
InrelationtothestudiesmentionedbytheHonourableMember,theCommissionwouldpointoutthat
their findings are based on texts posted for consultation on the internet in May 2003 and/or theCommission’sWhitePaperonaStrategyforaFutureChemicalsPolicy(
1).
Itisexpectedthatsignificantmodificationswillbemadetotheinternettexts,resultinginsubstantial
reductionsincoststoindustry.Thechangesenvisagedwilladdressinparticularpotentialproblemsfordownstreamusers,whoseobligationsunderthenewproposals,willbesubstantiallyalleviated.
(1) COM(2001)88final.
(2004/C58E/226) WRITTENQUESTIONE-2957/03
byMogensCamre(UEN)totheCommission
(8October2003)
Subject:Commission’sproposedamendmentofDirective94/35/EC
Areportinthescientificjournal‘Headache’(May2003,p.555)indicatesthatpeoplewithapredisposition
tomigrainemaysufferanattackiftheytakeasubstanceknownassucralose.
This substance is being considered for possible inclusion on the EU’s list of approved additives.
TheCommissionhasaccordinglysubmitted,inadocumentof16May2003,arevisedamendmentto
Directive94/35/EC(1)of30June1994onsweetenersforuseinfoodstuffs.Theamendmentproposesthat
theactivesubstance‘Splenda’(sucralose)beapprovedintheEUasE955.
TheamendmentalsorelatestosubstanceE962(aspartame-acesulphamesalt).Aspartameisawell-known
migraine-inducingsubstance,buttherearenostudiesonaspartame-acesulphamesalt.
Will the Commission take the initiative of having both these substances (together with other food
additives)thoroughlyinvestigatedforpossiblemigraine-inducingeffectbeforetheyareincludedonthelistofapprovedadditives?
(1) OJL237,10.9.1994,p.3.6.3.2004EN C58E/209 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion