WRITTEN QUESTION No. 892/97 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. Asbestos levels on the premises of Community institutions
Date: 1997-03-12
Institutions: AMADEO, European Parliament
Subjects: Brussels region, EU institution, European school, application of EU law, asbestos, building industry, health risk, occupational health, occupational safety, technical standard













EUR-Lex - 91997E0892 - EN






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91997E0892

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 892/97 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. Asbestos levels on the premises of Community institutions  


Official Journal C 367 , 04/12/1997 P. 0055 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-0892/97 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (12 March 1997)Subject: Asbestos levels on the premises of Community institutionsThe use of asbestos as a building material for the premises housing European institutions has been the subject of numerous controversies. Even after the Berlaymont Building was closed, the private tests carried out at the request of the Parents' Association have demonstrated that asbestos is still being used in the Brussels buildings, in spite of the assurances from the Brussels Buildings Directorate that there could not possibly be any traces of the substance at the Uccle school.Although it is no longer being used in such large quantities, asbestos is still being manufactured, and measurable concentrations can be detected in the new buildings in Brussels. Out of 20 tests conducted in the Eastman Building, 13 produced a positive result; the corresponding figures for the Remorqueur Building are 16 out of 19, for the Remard Building, 1 out of 8, for the van Maerlant Building, 2 out of 11, for the Montoyer Building, 1 out of 17, and for the Léopold Building, 7 out of 20.What steps will the Commission take to ensure compliance with the Directives on checks on asbestos levels in buildings?What will it do to protect public health and avert the health risk to persons working on premises where the presence of asbestos has been detected?Joint answer to Written Questions E-0892/97 and E-1017/97 given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (25 April 1997)On 19 September 1983 the Council, on a proposal from the Commission, adopted Directive 83/477/EEC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work (second individual Directive within the meaning of Article 8 of Directive 80/1107/EEC) ((OJ L 263, 24.9.1983. )). This Directive was amended, also on the Commission's initiative, by Council Directive 91/382/EEC of 25 June 1991 ((OJ L 206, 29.7.1991. )).These two Directives, which contain prohibitions and value limits to be applied to asbestos in buildings, have been transposed into the legislation of the Member States.Belgium has introduced equal or stricter standards than those provided for in the above Directives into its general regulation on protection at work. In addition to these provisions, a Belgian ministerial order requires every employer in Belgium to prepare a table showing the asbestos levels in his premises.In its buildings in Brussels, the Commission not only complies with the two directives mentioned above but also with Belgian legislation where it is stricter.