WRITTEN QUESTION E-1921/99 by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
Date: 1999-11-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: chemical product, dangerous substance, disease prevention, endocrine disease, health policy, medical research

C 219 E/46

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

1.8.2000

29 September 1999 on progress made in the consultations with the United States on the development of a
new generation noise standard for civil subsonic jet aeroplanes and phase-out measures for the noisiest
categories of civil subsonic jet aeroplanes within Chapter 3.

2.
The Commission is fully aware of the adoption on 16 September 1998 by the Parliament, on the
basis of the report by Mr Valverde Lopez, of its opinion in first reading concerning the Commission
proposal for a Council directive on the use and registration within the Community of certain types of civil
subsonic jet aeroplanes which have been modified and recertificated as meeting the standards of Volume 1,
Part II, Chapter 3 of Annex 16 to the Convention on international civil aviation, third edition (2).

3.
Although the Commission has worked towards the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 925/
1999 on 29 April 1999 (3) at the date provided for in its initial proposals, it did not object to the Council
decision taken by unanimity, in this exceptional case and without creating a precedent, to postpone the
date of application of the Regulation by one year. Under ex-Article 189c, it was for the Council to adopt
the measures and thus, to ensure that its position on adoption did not conflict with that of the Parliament:
it was not for the Commission to ensure Parliament(cid:146)s approval. The Commission has always been anxious
about safeguarding the adoption and the entry into force of this Regulation with a view to preserving its
environmental objectives.

4.
The Commission is aware of the financial efforts of Member States as well as the air transport
industry itself with a view to ensuring a better compatibility between air transport activities and the quality
of life for people living around airports. That is the reason why it proposed to freeze the development of
the use of the noisiest category of aircraft in order to support these efforts.

5. and 6.
As the Commissioner responsible for Transport and Energy has explained at the recent
meeting of the committee for regional policy, transport and tourism of 12 October 1999 the perspective
of a positive outcome in 2001 of the ongoing ICAO activities offers the Community the possibility of
making a strategic choice between the entry into force of the Regulation on 4 May 2000 with the ensuing
risk of a conflict that might jeopardise the development of a new ICAO noise standard and the adoption at
ICAO level of a noise standard with an increased environmental benefit compared to the Regulation. If the
United States confirm their willingness to fully contribute to the successful completion of the ICAO
activities on the development of a new noise standard and rules for phasing-out the noisiest Chapter 3
aircraft, the Commission could accept under certain conditions to propose a further suspension of the date
of application of Council Regulation (EC) No 925/1999. This strategic choice is, however, dependent upon
the guarantees that the United States will be able to give.

(1) COM(1999) 452 final.
(2) OJ C 118, 17.4.1998.
(3) OJ L 115, 4.5.1999.

(2000/C 219 E/053)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1921/99

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(4 November 1999)

Subject: Endocrine-disrupting chemicals

What measures does the Commission intend to take in response to the recommendations made by
Parliament in October 1998 in the presentation contained in its report A4-0281/98 (1)?

(1) OJ C 341, 9.11.1998, p. 37.

1.8.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 219 E/47

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(7 December 1999)

The Commission is currently in the process of finalising a Community strategy for endocrine disrupters,
adoption of which was initially foreseen for March 1999, but which was delayed due to the resignation of
the Commission. The objectives of the strategy are to identify the problem of endocrine disruption, its
causes and consequences, and to identify appropriate policy action on the basis of the precautionary
principle in order to respond quickly and effectively to the problem.

The strategy focuses on man-made chemicals and addresses the key requirements of further research,
international co-operation, communication to the public and appropriate policy action, all of which are
elements of the resolution adopted by the Parliament in October 1998. Recommendations are made for
actions in the short-, medium- and long-term to cover these requirements.

Short-term actions represent a timeframe of 1-2 years and include the establishment of a list of substances
for further evaluation of their role in endocrine disruption, the use of existing legislative instruments, the
establishment of monitoring programmes, the identification of specific cases of consumer uses for special
action, information exchange and international co-operation, communication to the public and consulta-
tion of stakeholders.

Medium-term actions will require a 2-4 year horizon and involve the development of agreed test methods
(primarily in the framework of the Organisation for economic co-operation and development (OECD), the
gathering of research results from ongoing research projects, the launching of further research to address
new research requirements and the identification of substitutes and voluntary initiatives.

Long-term actions will require a timeframe of more than 4 years and entail the amendment of existing and
proposed legislation in order to take specific account of endocrine disrupters.

The strategy has undergone an extensive consultation process.

(2000/C 219 E/054)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1924/99

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(4 November 1999)

Subject: Habitats Directive

What programme of action is the Commission proposing in order to ensure that all Member States
implement the requirements of the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC (1)) in their entirety?

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(25 November 1999)

The first stage of implementation of Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of
natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, requires Member States to adopt and send implementing
legislation to the Commission. The Commission has taken legal action against Member States which have
not sent such legislation. A further crucial stage in the implementation of the Directive involves the
proposal of national lists of sites by the Member States. Although it is more than four years since expiry of
the deadline for such lists fixed by the Directive, most Member States have still not sent complete lists. The
Commission will continue to pursue the legal actions it has already started for this failure.