WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1182/98 by Anna KARAMANOU to the Commission. Disastrous effects of video games on the physical and mental health of children
Date: 1998-04-29
Institutions: European Parliament, KARAMANOU
Subjects: automatic game, consumer information, consumer protection, early childhood, health risk, product safety, public health, toy industry, young person

18.1.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 13/25

(1999/C 13/034)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1182/98

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Commission

(29 April 1998)

Subject: Disastrous effects of video games on the physical and mental health of children

Recent scientific research and studies have shown that video games have disastrous effects on health › epilepsy,
distortion of the optical nerve, violent headaches and even death. The mental health and balance of children is
also undermined as they become inured to violence and confrontation. Given that the incidence of crimes and
appalling acts committed by children has multiplied in recent times, the latest being the carnage at the school in
Arkansas in the USA, will the Commission say in what ways it will intervene and what measures it intends to take
to protect the mental and physical health of children from harmful video games and to prevent crime committed
by children in the European Union?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(18 June 1998)

Will the Honourable Member please refer to the answer given by the Commission to her Oral Question
H-412/98 during question time at Parliament(cid:146)s plenary session in May 1998 (1) with regard to the effect of video
games on mental health.

The likelihood of any harmful effects on the physical health of children is covered by Directive 88/378/EEC of
3 May 1988 concerning the safety of toys (2) where video games may be considered to be (cid:145)toys(cid:146) within the
meaning of the directive (cf. Annex I, 1.18). The directive lays down (a) specific essential requirements regarding
electrical characteristics (Annex II, II.4) and (b) a general requirement whereby toy users must be protected
against health hazards and the risk of injury when toys are used either as intended or in a foreseeable manner,
bearing in mind children(cid:146)s(cid:146) behaviour (Annex II, I.1).

More specifically as regards the likelihood of epilepsy(cid:146)s being caused by playing video games, the Commission is
aware that two Member States, the United Kingdom and France, have carried out scientific studies in this area and
that France has apparently adopted a set of regulations introducing labelling requirements for video games,
software and video game consoles in order to inform consumers firstly of any likelihood that certain persons
playing that type of game might suffer epilepsy and secondly of the precautions to be taken when playing such
games.

The Commission will examine the soundness of the French regulations and will consult the other Member States.
In addition, on 15 April 1998, the Commission approved an amended proposal for a Parliament and Council
decision adopting a Community action programme on injury prevention in the field of public health (3).
Theconcept of injury in that programme also includes injuries to children at home, school or recreational
amenities and certain aspects of damage to one(cid:146)s self. The programme will expand the collection of information,
analysis of risk factors and prevention in order to reduce the incidence of such injuries by, in particular,
promoting the spread and more effective applicable of good practice and preventive techniques. The safety of
toys and their effects on children(cid:146)s health will be topics tackled by networks of Community experts which the
programme also intends to set up or strengthen.

(1) Parliament debates (May 1998).
(2) OJ L 187, 16.7.1988.
(3) COM(88) 229 final.

(1999/C 13/035)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1194/98

by Angela Sierra GonzÆlez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Professional activities of property managers

(24 April 1998)

The Professional Association of Property Managers, which has been legitimately set up in accordance with the
relevant Spanish law as a professional association and which is duly registered with the appropriate Ministry, has
legally been carrying out management and mediation tasks in the property sector since 1993.