WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2258/97 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. Dangerous preparations
Date: 1997-07-02
Institutions: AMADEO, European Parliament
Subjects: approximation of laws, classification, dangerous substance, health risk, labelling, packaging, public health

11. 3. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 76/85

(98/C 76/175)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2257/97

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(2 July 1997)

Subject: Dangerous preparations

The  Commission  has  submitted  a  proposal  for  a  European  Parliament  and  Council  directive  concerning  the
approximation  of  the  laws,  regulations  and  administrative  provisions  of  the  Member  States  relating  to  the
classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous preparations (COM(96) 347 final › 96/0200 COD) (1).

Will the Commission include clear and unambiguous standards for the labelling of plant protection products in
an annex to the directive, as well as making the necessary changes to Directive 91/414/EEC (2), at the latest by the
date on which the current proposal enters into force?

(1)  OJ C 283, 26.9.1996, p. 1.
(2)  OJ L 230, 19.8.1991, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(4 September 1997)

The  proposal  for  a  Parliament  and  Council  directive  on  classification,  packaging  and  labelling  of  dangerous
preparations only introduces the general principle of labelling of plant protection products. Detailed rules for the
application of the principle of labelling of plant protection products need to be developed in accordance with the
committee procedure of the present Directive. As Directive 78/631/EEC (1) will be repealed as a consequence,
the reference in Directive 91/414/EEC (2) should be replaced with a reference to the proposed directive.

At its first reading the Parliament adopted an amendment to the above-mentioned proposal on inclusion of a
specific  chapter  for  labelling  of  plant  protection  products  into  Annex  V  of  the  proposed  directive.  The
Commission will accept this amendment and include it in its amended proposal for the directive.

The Commission is also working on a modification of Directive 91/414/EEC on the placing of plant protection
products on the market which would bring in line the present proposal on dangerous preparations and Directive
91/414/EEC. The Commission will during the works in Council, insist on harmonisation of that the dates for
entry into force of these two directives.

(1)  OJ L 206, 29.7.1978. Directive as last amended by Council Directive 92/32/EEC › OJ L 154, 5.6.1992.
(2)  Last amended by Commission Directive 94/79/EC › OJ L 354, 31.12.1994.

(98/C 76/176)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2258/97

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(2 July 1997)

Subject: Dangerous preparations

The  Commission  has  submitted  a  proposal  for  a  European  Parliament  and  Council  directive  concerning  the
approximation  of  the  laws,  regulations  and  administrative  provisions  of  the  Member  States  relating  to  the
classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous preparations (COM(96) 347 final › 96/0200 COD) (1).

With regard to the assessment of health risks, will the Commission make it clear that the increases in the allowed
variations apply only in rare cases where the properties of the preparation have been assessed for the first time by
means of tests rather than determined on the basis of components?

(1)  OJ C 283, 26.9.1996, p. 1.