WRITTEN QUESTION P-2283/99 by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission. Marketing practices.
Date: 1999-11-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Finland, proposal (EU), sustainable development, waste incineration

1.8.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 219 E/139

(2000/C 219 E/175)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2283/99

by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission

(24 November 1999)

Subject: Marketing practices

Could the Commission please indicate whether any of its delegations have received complaints about the
implementation by local or national authorities or by NGOs of the Council Resolution of 18 June 1992 on
the marketing of breast-milk substitutes in third countries by Community-based manufacturers (1) and, in
particular, paragraph 2 and paragraph 5 thereof?

(1) OJ C 172, 8.7.1992, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(16 December 1999)

Council Resolution of 18 June 1992 on the marketing of breast-milk substitutes in third countries by
Community-based manufacturers (1) states that
the Community will contribute to the application of
appropriate marketing practices for breast-milk substitutes in third countries. In accordance with para-
graph 2 of that Resolution, the Commission has instructed its delegations in third countries to serve as
contact points for the competent authorities and receive any complaints or criticisms with respect to the
marketing practices of a manufacturer established in the Community.

The Commission delegations have not to date received any complaints in the context of the Resolution
from competent authorities of third countries. On one occasion a delegation received criticisms from a
consumer organisation of a third country.

(1) OJ C 172, 8.7.1992.

(2000/C 219 E/176)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2285/99

by Mikko Pes(cid:228)l(cid:228) (ELDR) to the Council

(29 November 1999)

Subject: Use of material classified as waste in Finland

The Commission(cid:146)s proposed directive on the incineration of waste will give rise to serious problems in
Finland. The proposed directive is drawn up with countries in mind in which waste management is based
on mass incineration units. However,
in complying with the directive Finland would be forced into a
situation which would be in conflict with environmental efficiency.

According to industry(cid:146)s own estimates there are at least 200 heating and power generation plants and
industrial furnaces in Finland in which it is possible to safely co-incinerate harmless materials classified as
waste. In addition to wood these include paper which is unsuitable for recycling for one reason or another,
cardboard, textiles and harmless sludge from industrial processes. In our industries the materials classified
as waste which are suitable for incineration are sorted at the place of origin in just the same way, mutatis
mutandis, as in the household and commercial sectors. In this way it is ensured that no more harmful
emissions arise from incineration than from ordinary fuels. The incineration plants are also efficiently
supervised.

The application of such limit values to plants which incinerate harmless materials classified as waste as an
additional fuel is very problematic, if only because the continuous measurement of emissions is expensive
and calls for high investments in measuring equipment. In Finland the long transport distances favour the
use of small plants. Costs could well rise to such an extent that the use of waste as an additional fuel will
cease to be profitable.