WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2736/98 by Christine ODDY to the Commission. Asbestos
Date: 1998-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, ODDY
Subjects: asbestos, dangerous substance, environmental protection, health risk, import restriction, marketing restriction, occupational health

C 135/108

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.5.1999

for consumers to distinguish table eggs produced in the Community and those produced in third countries
and to be aware of the conditions under which the hens have been kept. With this system of labelling it is
then up to the European consumers to choose the type of table eggs they prefer.

(1) OJ C 123, 22.4.1998.
(2) OJ L 173, 6.7.1990.

(1999/C 135/128)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2736/98

by Christine Oddy (PSE) to the Commission

(1 September 1998)

Subject: Asbestos

Will the Commission urgently draw up proposals for a total ban on the import and manufacture of
chrysotile (white) asbestos in view of the grave risk to health posed by the use of this substance which,
together with other forms of asbestos, is responsible for the deaths of more than 3500 people every year in
the United Kingdom alone?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(30 September 1998)

There already exists a significant body of Community legislation which aims to protect the health of
workers and the public from the health effects of asbestos. All types of asbestos fibres, except white (or
chrysotile) asbestos, are already banned by current Community legislation. In addition, there is a ban on
fourteen categories of products containing chrysotile and strict Community controls on exposure of
workers to asbestos and on release of asbestos fibres to the environment.

Even though much has already been accomplished, it is apparent that more now needs to be done to tighten
up the Community legislation on the marketing and use of asbestos-containing products. There are now
nine Member States which have introduced national bans on chrysotile which go beyond the current
Community legislation. This represents a significant disruption to the internal market which requires a
solution at Community level.

Also, various national organisations, including the Health and safety executive in the United Kingdom,
have made very disturbing projections about the numbers of deaths which are likely to be attributable to
asbestos over the next few decades. However, it is important to note that these figures relate to past
exposures to mixed asbestos types, including the fibres which have already been banned. It would be
wrong to use these statistics alone to justify a ban on the marketing and use of chrysotile because such a
ban would not lead to a lower risk of exposure for workers to asbestos which is already in place, nor would
it reduce the number of deaths which are occurring today as a result of past exposure to asbestos. Possible
contamination from asbestos in existing buildings (e.g. in relation to maintenance activities and asbestos
removal operations) will remain an important cause of exposure to workers for many years.

However, taking all the above into account, based on current scientific knowledge about the health risks of
chrysotile asbestos, the Commission is preparing a draft proposal for a European-wide ban on chrysotile
asbestos (with some exceptions and temporary derogations), which will be discussed with Member State
experts in the near future. The details of the final draft will of course depend on those discussions, and on
contacts with the Parliament, interest groups and on the outcome of continuing scientific considerations.