WRITTEN QUESTION No. 242/99 by Ulf HOLM Consumers misled by the CE mark
Date: 1999-02-12
Institutions: European Parliament, HOLM
Subjects: EU control, European standard, application of EU law, consumer protection, market supervision, product safety, qualitative analysis, quality label, retail outlet

C 341/70

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.11.1999

(1999/C 341/096)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0235/99

by Antonio Tajani (PPE) to the Commission

(12 February 1999)

Subject: Contracts at Leonardo da Vinci airport, Rome

On 21 September 1998 the Aeroporti di Roma company awarded the contract for cleaning and maintenance
services at Leonardo da Vinci ( Fiumicino airport, divided into three separate lots, to the following companies:

( Linda srl;

( SNAM Lazio Sud srl;

( Bona Dea srl.

Given the airport’s importance as an international stop-over, can the Commission state whether the European
rules on competition for public contracts have been complied with in this case?

Supplementary answer
given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(27 April 1999)

Firstly, the Commission would like to point out that no complaint has been made about the matter raised by
the Honourable Member. However, the Commission will contact the Italian authorities to check whether
Community rules on competition for public contracts have been complied with in the award of the contract
for cleaning and maintenance services at Leonardo da Vinci airport to the companies mentioned.

(1999/C 341/097)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0242/99

by Ulf Holm (V) to the Commission

(12 February 1999)

Subject: Consumers misled by the CE mark

The CE mark is used on products such as toys, safety helmets and electronic equipment and signifies that the
manufacturer certifies that the product concerned conforms to EU safety standards. Checks on whether
products actually conform to such standards, however, are not made in the factories but are carried out by
inspectors in shops where the goods are sold. Experts at Sweden’s National Board for Consumer Policies have
estimated that about 30 % of toys sold with the CE mark are wrongly marked. There is thus widespread misuse
of the mark, which means that consumers are being lulled into a false sense of security.

What steps is the Commission planning to take in order to ensure that the CE conformity marking system
really does provide security for consumers?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(25 March 1999)

Products falling within the scope of the technical harmonisation directives drawn up on the basis of the new
approach and the global approach (Council Resolution of 7 May 1985 on a new approach to technical
harmonisation and standards (1)), such as toys and electrical domestic appliances, cannot be put on the market
unless they comply with the essential, particularly safety, requirements of the pertinent directives. Conformity
assessment of new approach products is the responsibility of the manufacturer or the importer in accordance
with the procedures laid down in the directives, which may include assistance from notified bodies
(independent third parties). The affixing of the ‘EC mark’ is confirmation that this process has been completed.