WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1977/98 by Graham MATHER to the Commission. Safety standards for children's pushchairs
Date: 1998-06-30
Institutions: European Parliament, MATHER
Subjects: European standard, child, marketing standard, product safety, quality standard, safety standard, standardisation, vehicle

18.1.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 13/127

Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission

(27 July 1998)

There were more non-notified state aid cases in 1997 than in 1996. 91 out of 641 cases (14 %) registered by the
Commission in 1996 were non-notified, compared with 140 out of 655 cases (21 %) in 1997. A particularly high
proportion of non-notified aid measures concerned Germany (30 %), Greece (56 %), Ireland (40 %), Italy (17 %)
Austria (16 %) and the United Kingdom (46 %).

No Member State is of the opinion that non-notified aid should be considered as approved, if the Commission
does not detect the violation of the notification obligation within two months.

The Commission systematically orders the recovery of aids which were not notified and are not compatible with
the common market. It thereby exerts pressure on Member States to notify aid in the interest of their industry. In
the absence of notification the enterprises concerned risk having to repay the aid, which would impede sound
assessment of investment. Creditors therefore also have an interest in legal certainty with regard to state aids.
Further measures do not appear to be required or appropriate in this area.

(1999/C 13/180)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1977/98

by Graham Mather (PPE) to the Commission

(30 June 1998)

Subject: Safety standards for children(cid:146)s pushchairs

Is the Commission satisfied with the current safety standards for children(cid:146)s pushchairs that exist in the EU and, in
particular, the safety standards relating to what are known as (cid:145)rear assembly(cid:146) platforms?

Does the Commission have any further comments to make on this issue?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission

(31 July 1998)

So far, the Commission has had no reason to feel concern about platforms that allow a second child to be carried,
standing, at the back of a pushchair. Moreover, there have been no notifications concerning such products under
the rapid warning system set up pursuant to Council Directive 92/59/EEC of 29 June 1992 on general product
safety (1) to warn about the presence of dangerous products on Community territory.

As regards safety standards, although national standards exist, such as the United Kingdom¢s BS 4792, there is as
yet no European standard on children¢s pushchairs. However, work is in progress on this matter and a draft
standard is due to be submitted shortly to the national members of the CEN (European Committee for
Standardisation) for their vote.

The platforms in question are not dealt with in this draft standard. If, however, they turned out to constitute a
particular danger they could be considered in a future revision of the European standard, and the Commission will
remain watchful in this regard.

(1) OJ L 228, 11.8.1992.

(1999/C 13/181)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1981/98

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Commission

(15 June 1998)

Subject: Environmental measures to combat the depletion of the ozone layer

According to the World Ozone Data Centre there has been a 10 % decline in the ozone layer in Greece over the
last eight years, while ultraviolet radiation has increased by 15-20 %. The World Meteorological Association has