WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2893/97 by Phillip WHITEHEAD to the Council. Nickel release levels for the alloy used in the 1 and 2 Euro coins
Date: 1997-09-16
Institutions: European Parliament, WHITEHEAD
Subjects: Economic and Monetary Union, European standard, drafting of EU law, ferro-alloy, money, nickel, public health, scientific committee (EU), substitute product, toxic substance

C 134/30

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

30. 4. 98

The matter is very sensitive, involving public health concerns. The Commission is in contact with the authorities
of India and Bangladesh to get the assurance that the sanitary conditions will be improved as soon as possible, in
order to remove the import restrictions when satisfactory assurances are given about the sanitary situation.

(1)  OJ L 268, 24.9.1991.
(2)  OJ L 214, 6.8.1997.

(98/C 134/35)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2893/97

by Phillip Whitehead (PSE) to the Council

(16 September 1997)

Subject: Nickel release levels for the alloy used in the 1 and 2 euro coins

The nickel directive (94/27/EC) (1) prohibits the use of a nickel alloy with a nickel release level of greater than
0.5 ug/cm2  per week for products intended to come in direct and prolonged contact with the human skin.

Given the fact that certain workers (e.g. bank tellers/cash desk operators) have a high level of contact with coins,
does the Council consider that coins are products which come into direct and prolonged contact with the human
skin?

If so, will the Council ensure that the nickel alloy chosen for the euro coins conforms to the standards for such
products laid down in the nickel directive?

(1)  OJ L 188, 22.7.1994, p. 1.

(98/C 134/36)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2895/97

by Phillip Whitehead (PSE) to the Council

(16 September 1997)

Subject: Proposal for a Council regulation on denominations and technical specifications of euro coins

After having formally transmitted the above proposal (COM(97)0247) (1) to both the Parliament and the Council,
it appears that the Commission has decided to consult the Scientific Committee for Toxicity and Eco-toxicity of
Chemical Compounds regarding the health implications of the proposal to use a nickel alloy in the 1 and 2 euro
coins. It also appears that the Commission is financing further research in this area.

In the Council(cid:146)s view is there already sufficient research to reach a decision on this proposal that guarantees the
high level of human health protection enshrined in Article 129 of the new Amsterdam treaty?

If not, does the Council feel that it would be advisable for both the Council and the Parliament to await the results
of the additional research and the Scientific opinion before assessing the advisability of using a nickel alloy in the
1 and 2 euro coins?

(1)  OJ C 208, 9.7.1997, p. 5.

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-2893/97 and E-2895/97

(22 December 1997)

The technical specifications for euro coins and, more specifically, the metal to be used in them, are the subject of
a  proposal  for  a  Regulation  submitted  by  the  Commission  in  June  1997.  In  that  proposal,  the  Commission
recommends that nickel should be used only in the 1 and 2 euro coins, representing some 8% of the total euro
coinage. This should be compared with the present situation in which the vast majority of Member States use
nickel in about 75% of all coins.