WRITTEN QUESTION P-0147/01

by Vincenzo Lavarra (PSE) to the Commission

(23 January 2001)

Subject: Asbestos risk linked with Fibronit plant in Bari

The EU attaches particular importance to policies aimed at improving the quality of urban life and generally protecting the environment and public health and promoting health and safety at work.

The Commune of Bari, meanwhile, intends to give permission to build on the site currently occupied by the former Fibronit plant, which is no longer in use, partly because of the very high levels of asbestos present in the remaining structures and toxic substances present in the subsoil.

Obviously, clearing the former Fibronit industrial plant, which is situated right in the middle of town next to the heavily populated districts of San Pasquale and Japigia, and the subsequent construction work would lead to dangerous amounts of asbestos dust being released into the environment, which would be deleterious to the health of residents and construction workers alike.

These plans have been opposed not only by a number of political parties and associations of citizens but also by academics and experts on public health and the environment, who believe that it would be less dangerous, and therefore preferable, to transform the area into a public park after simply taking action at the site to ensure its permanent safety rather than physically removing any remaining traces of asbestos present.

In view of the foregoing:

1. What action has the EU taken, or does it intend to take, to monitor and decontaminate industrial sites containing high levels of asbestos?

2. What form of action does the EU consider it preferable to take in cases involving the removal of asbestos from industrial sites in urban areas such as the one in question?

3. Is it not preferable, in the light of past experience, to adopt an approach that avoids removing and disturbing huge amounts of asbestos?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(6 March 2001)

Community legislation addresses the risks related to asbestos under various aspects.

Measures for the protection of workers exposed in the course of their work to dust arising from asbestos or materials containing asbestos were already introduced by Council Directive 83/477/EEC of 19 September 1983 on the protection of workers from the risk related to exposure to asbestos at work(1). Council Directive 87/217/EEC of 19 March 1987 on the prevention and reduction of environmental pollution by asbestos(2) introduced general measures related to the use of asbestos and its disposal. Asbestos waste shall be dealt with in accordance with Council Directive 78/319/EEC of 20 March 1978 on toxic and dangerous waste(3), which has been repealed and replaced by Council Directive 91/689/EEC of 12 December 1991 on hazardous waste(4). General provisions on the safe management of hazardous waste are laid down in this legislation. Moreover, a general obligation to take the necessary measures to ensure that waste is recovered or disposed of without endangering human health and without using processes or methods which could harm the environment is put upon Member States by Council Directive 75/442/EEC of 15 July 1975 on waste, as amended by Directive 91/156/EEC(5).

Council Directive 96/61/EC of 24 September 1996, concerning integrated pollution prevention and control stipulates(6) in its article 3 that the necessary measures are taken upon definitive cessation of activities to avoid any pollution risk and return the site of operation to a satisfactory state. It applies to certain categories of industrial activities characterised by a significant pollution potential, including installations for the production of asbestos and the manufacture of asbestos-based products. Installations authorised before October 1999 have to operate in line with the provisions of the Directive from October 2007 onwards. An installation already closed down, as is the case for the Fibronit plant in question, is not covered by this legal instrument.

There is, however, no Community legislation specifically dedicated to the decontamination of industrial sites containing high levels of asbestos, or to the decision to remove or not asbestos from buildings. It is up to Member States to decide, within the limits set by the above-mentioned Community legislation, how to deal with asbestos in existing building structures.

(1) OJ L 263, 24.9.1983.

(2) OJ L 85, 28.3.1987.

(3) OJ L 84, 31.3.1978.

(4) OJ L 377, 31.12.1991.

(5) OJ L 78, 26.3.1991.

(6) OJ L 257, 10.10.1996.