WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2285/97 by John IVERSEN , Kirsten JENSEN to the Commission. Pesticides on the positive list
Date: 1997-07-02
Institutions: European Parliament, IVERSEN, JENSEN KIRSTEN
Subjects: chemical product, dangerous substance, environmental protection, pesticide, plant health legislation, plant health product, public health, working environment

17. 3. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 82/51

(98/C 82/93)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2285/97

by John Iversen (PSE) and Kirsten Jensen (PSE) to the Commission

(2 July 1997)

Subject: Pesticides on the positive list

Can the Commission confirm that it is in the process of adding the pesticide Paraquat to the EU(cid:146)s positive list?

If so, will it explain how it assesses such chemical substances?

What precautions does the Commission expect to be taken when Paraquat is used, in particular in relation to
problems concerning the environment and health and safety at work?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(12 September 1997)

Paraquat  is  indeed  one  of  the  active  substances  which  are  currently  being  evaluated  under  the  provisions  of
Directive 91/414/EEC (1) and Regulation (EEC) No 3600/92 (2) with a view to possible inclusion in a Community
positive list.

As stated in Article 5 of the Directive an active substance may only be included in Annex I to that Directive
where in the light of the current scientific and technical knowledge, it may be expected that plant protection
products containing the active substance will, consequent on application consistent with good plant protection
practice,  not  have  any  harmful  effects  on  human  or  animal  health  or  any  unacceptable  influence  on  the
environment.

Moreover, after inclusion of an active substance in Annex I of the Directive, Member States will have to review
the  authorizations  of  the  plant  protection  products  containing  that  active  substance  in  accordance  with  the
conditions of the inclusion and in accordance with the uniform principles (Annex VI) within a deadline to be
determined.

The evaluation of paraquat continues and reports on the conclusions concerning paraquat are still in preparation.
It will therefore be some time before a draft decision can be discussed with the Member States in the standing
committee on plant health and consequently a decision taken.

(1)  Council Directive 91/414/EEC concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market › OJ L 230, 19.8.1991.
(2)  Commission Regulation (EEC) 3600/92 laying down the detailed rules for the implementation of the first stage of the programme of work
referred  to  in  Article  8(2)  of  Council  Directive  91/414/EEC  concerning  the  placing  of  plant  protection  products  on  the  market  ›
OJ L 366, 15.12.1992.

(98/C 82/94)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2286/97

by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Commission

(2 July 1997)

Subject: Genetically modified colza

On Monday June 9 the Commission approved a genetically modified herbicide-resistant colza for market release.
The herbicide-resistant colza was manufactured by the Belgian company Plant Genetic System.

What  studies,  if  any,  were  carried  out  on  behalf  of  the  Commission  to  assess  the  health  and  environmental
consequences of releasing this genetically modified organism? On what grounds did the Commission decide not
to follow the precautionary principle in this case?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(18 September 1997)

On  6  June  1997  the  Commission  adopted  two  decisions  concerning  the  placing  on  the  market  of  genetically
modified hybrid swede rape seeds notified by the company Plant Genetic Systems (PGS) (1).