WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3242/97 by Alfonso NOVO BELENGUER to the Commission. Toxic teats
Date: 1997-10-20
Institutions: European Parliament, NOVO BELENGUER
Subjects: Community of Valencia, France, carcinogenic substance, consumer protection, early childhood, exchange of information, product safety, public health, synthetic rubber, withdrawal from the market













EUR-Lex - 91997E3242 - EN






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91997E3242

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3242/97 by Alfonso NOVO BELENGUER to the Commission. Toxic teats  


Official Journal C 134 , 30/04/1998 P. 0122 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-3242/97 by Alfonso Novo Belenguer (ARE) to the Commission (20 October 1997)Subject: Toxic teatsFrance recently withdrew from the market 30 000 teats manufactured by Remond after discovering that they were made with a carcinogenic substance called nitrosamine.In view of the urgent and worrying nature of this case:1. does the Commission know that these products were definitely withdrawn from the market by the French Government;2. can the Commission supply any information about the implications for Spain, in particular the Region of Valencia;3. what steps has the Commission taken to ascertain that these products have been totally withdrawn from the European market?Answer given by Ms Bonino on behalf of the Commission (18 November 1997)In accordance with Directive 92/59/EEC on general product safety ((OJ L 228, 11.8.1992. )) and, in particular, the emergency procedure set out in the Directive for the exchange of information between Member States on measures taken to deal with products that pose a serious and immediate risk, the Commission has been informed by the French authorities of the problem referred to by the Honourable Member.As soon as it was received, this information was forwarded via the early-warning system to all the authorities responsible for protecting the health and safety of consumers in the various Member States and in the European Economic Area (EEA).1. According to the information provided by the French authorities, it was Sebir-Remond itself which, as a precaution, ordered the withdrawal of some of the teats as a result of allegations by a consumer association that they were contaminated with a carcinogenic substance.The French authorities have carried out their own tests on the levels of nitrosamines and nitrosatable substances in the teats concerned and in those produced by other manufacturers. At the same time, they have checked that the products in question have been withdrawn from all the establishments concerned (crèches, hospitals, chemists' shops, etc.). An assessment of the steps taken by the Member State and the manufacturer was due to be made at the end of October 1997.2. Although the information supplied by the French authorities was forwarded via the early-warning system, the Spanish authorities have not informed the Commission of the steps taken to deal with these products nor of the scale of the problem in Spain as a whole or in its individual regions.Under Directive 93/11/EEC concerning the release of N-nitrosamines and N-nitrosatable substances from elastomer or rubber teats and soothers ((OJ L 93, 17.4.1993. )), Member States must prohibit the marketing and use of teats and soothers which release a certain amount of N-nitrosamines and nitrosatable substances. Using the powers vested in it, the Commission will ensure that all the Member States comply with this obligation in order to protect the safety of European consumers.