WRITTEN QUESTION P-2285/99 by Mikko Pesälä (ELDR) to the Council. Use of material classified as waste in Finland.
Date: 1999-11-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: baby food, international trade, marketing

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.

C 219 E/140

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

1.8.2000

Co-incineration can reduce the quantity of waste needing to be transported to landfill sites. The use of the
energy content of materials sorted at source which are classified as waste, but which emit harmless
combustion gases when burnt, contributes greatly to sustainable development.

1. What is the Council doing to ensure that the drafting of the directive takes into account the efficient
sorting of waste at source in Finland and the use of energy this makes possible?

2.
Is it possible that the authorities supervising incineration could be given wider powers to be flexible
in individual cases, where this is justified in the light of the type of waste and the technical level of the
installation?

Reply

(31 January 2000)

As the Member of Parliament may know, the Commission proposal on incineration of waste was very
carefully examined by the Council, taking into consideration the different situations in the Member States.
The Council reached a political agreement during its meeting in June 1999. The Council has formally
adopted its common position on 25 November 1999, and the transmission to the European Parliament
has been done on the occasion of its plenary on 1-2 December 1999.

As the Member of Parliament may note from the common position, the Council has taken due account of
his concerns in that incineration or co-incineration of harmless material such as vegetable waste from
agriculture and forestry or wood waste is excluded from the scope of the Directive. Moreover,
it is
stipulated that the heat generated during the incineration or co-incineration process should be recovered as
far as practicable.

As far as measurements are concerned, periodical instead of continuous measurements may be allowed by
the supervising authorities subject to certain conditions for hydrogen chloride (HCl), hydrogen fluoride
(HF) and sulphur dioxide (SO2); moreover, the frequency of measurements for heavy metals, dioxins and
furans have, provided some very strict conditions are fulfilled, also been reduced.

(2000/C 219 E/177)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2288/99

by Marialiese Flemming (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 December 1999)

Subject: Exotic animals

Council Regulation (EC) 338/97 (1) of 9 December 1996 on the protection of species of wild fauna and
flora by regulating trade therein contains provisions governing the trade in and transport of species of wild
fauna and flora. The number of animals which die during transport is to be monitored by the Community,
and where appropriate import restrictions may be imposed.

How many animals of what species have died during transport since the entry into force of Regulation
338/97?

Have import restrictions been imposed in this connection?

(1) OJ L 61, 3.3.1997, p. 1.

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

(11 January 2000)

Under Article 39 3) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 939/97 of 26 May 1997 laying down detailed
rules concerning the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 on the protection of species of