WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1435/99 by Gérard CAUDRON Health hazard for young children from toys containing phthalates
Date: 1999-09-01
Institutions: CAUDRON, European Parliament
Subjects: EU policy, France, care of mothers and infants, child, dangerous substance, market approval, miscellaneous industries, plastics, toy industry

29.1.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 27 E/67

That remains the position, which is unaffected by the successor arrangements to Directive 90/684/EEC, as
laid down in Council Regulation (EC) 1540/98 of 29 June 1998 establishing new rules on aid to
shipbuilding (3) to which the Honourable Member also refers. Likewise, any change of ownership of
Astano would have no effect on the limitations placed on its activities.

(1) OJ L 380, 31.12.1990.
(2) OJ L 148, 6.6.1997.
(3) OJ L 202, 18.7.1998.

(2000/C 27 E/080)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1433/99

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Allocation of Structural Fund resources within Spain

(1 September 1999)

The Structural Fund and, in particular, the ERDF resources earmarked for investment and received by the
Spanish Government for allocation to the country(cid:146)s Objective 1 Autonomous Communities have not been
distributed fairly (not even over such a long reference period as 1994-1999) on the basis of objective
criteria such as population size and per capita income. The reason for this is that the government assumes
responsibility for directly allocating over 50 % of the resources, which it subsequently invests in accordance
with criteria which do not correspond to the purposes which justify the existence of the Structural Funds.
The result is a geographical distribution which prevents the resources from achieving the objective
assigned to them under Community law. This state of affairs is particularly detrimental to autonomous
communities such as Galicia. In view of the above, would the Commission answer the following questions?

What reasons could there be under Community regulations to account for the pursuit of such a policy by
the Spanish Government?

Of the Structural Fund (especially ERDF) resources earmarked for productive investment or infrastructure
projects, what proportion out of the total allocated to Spain and in relation to the population of Spain(cid:146)s
Objective 1 Autonomous Communities was assigned to Galicia during the 1994-1999 period?

What criteria are to be followed during the 2000-2006 period as regards the distribution of the Structural
Fund resources to be allocated to Spain and earmarked for the Objective 1 Autonomous Communities?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission

(9 September 1999)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its
findings as soon as possible.

(2000/C 27 E/081)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1435/99

by GØrard Caudron (PSE) to the Commission

(1 September 1999)

Subject: Health hazard for young children from toys containing phthalates

I should like to draw your attention to the very serious health hazard for young children posed by toys
and educational materials containing plasticizing agents called phthalates, particularly those which children
put in their mouths. Animal experiments have demonstrated the toxicity and carcinogenic nature of these
products (which are very harmful for the liver and reproduction).

The French government has taken prompt action by imposing a one-year ban on the sale certain objects of
this kind which children put in their mouths.