WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3525/98 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. Protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens at work
Date: 1998-11-25
Institutions: AMADEO, European Parliament
Subjects: European standard, carcinogenic substance, health legislation, health policy, occupational health, occupational safety

21.5.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 142/143

As regards the scope of the Regulation, it covers all aid coming under Articles 92 and 93 of the EC Treaty.
Insofar as certain tax measures satisfy the conditions of Article 92(1), they are therefore also covered by
the Regulation.

There is no provision in the Commission proposal for the publishing of notifications, for legal and
practical reasons. The purpose of such an exercise would be to invite third parties to submit comments.
The EC Treaty reserves this third-party role for the formal investigation procedure: the decision to initiate
the procedure is published in the Official Journal. Such a procedure is mandatory in all aid cases which
give rise to doubts as to their compatibility with the common market. It does, however, appear
unnecessary for a large number of routine cases which quite clearly satisfy the criteria published by
the Commission, and for which it would only delay the Commission’s decisions. All Commission
decisions are, however, published in the Official Journal.

(1999/C 142/189)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3525/98

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(25 November 1998)

Subject: Protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens at work

With regard to the Council Directive amending for the second time Directive 90/394/EEC on the
protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens at work (COM(98) 170 final − 98/
0093/SYN) (1), up to now there has only been evidence of the carcinogenic nature of beech and oak dust,
which can cause adenocarcinomas of the nose and/or mucous membranes of the nose.

In addition, the Scientific Committee has stated that there is clear evidence implicating other types of
wood. Differences still exist between the Member States with regard to the limit values for beech and oak
wood dust and to some extent also with regard to wood dust in general. The various limit values range
from 2 to 10 mg/m3.

Can the Commission therefore incorporate in the directive an initial value of 5 mg/m3 as the threshold for
exposure at work with the proviso that that value must be reviewed within five years on the basis of
scientific data?

(1) OJ C 123, 22.4.1998, p. 21.

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(15 December 1998)

The Commission has already taken account of the Honourable Member’s suggestions in its amended
proposal for a Council Directive amending for the second time Directive 90/394/EEC (1). This proposal
was adopted on 12 November 1998 following the opinion expressed by Parliament.

(1) COM(98) 665 final.

(1999/C 142/190)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3530/98

by Georg Jarzembowski (PPE) to the Commission

(25 November 1998)

Subject: Special EU representative for Tibet

The report of 8 July 1998 by the EU troika’s human rights mission to Tibet from 1 to 10 May 1998 showed
clearly that the situation in Tibet is not satisfactory. The lack of transparency concerning respect for
human rights in Tibet makes it imperative, from the point of view of the European Parliament, to appoint a
special representative of the European Union for Tibet. Parliament’s resolution of 15 January 1998