WRITTEN QUESTION E-2361/99 by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Council Directive 96/29/Euratom.
Date: 1999-12-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EAEC, approximation of laws, competence of the Member States, consumer protection, directive (EU), environmental protection, food inspection, health control, health legislation, import (EU), ionising radiation, irradiated product, pollution control measures, radioactive pollution, transfrontier pollution

21.11.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 330 E/9

the harmonised standards for lifts into Danish, Finnish, Greek,

Does the Commission feel that the principle of equality is jeopardised through the non-availability of
1.
the translation of
Italian, Dictum,
Portuguese(cid:146)s, Spanish and Swedish? If so, what action will it take to have the technical standards laid
down in the lifts directive translated forthwith into the eleven official languages of the European Union? If
not, what principles of European law does the Commission use to justify limited translation (German,
English and French) of the standards?

2.
Can the lifts directive be implemented properly if the harmonised standards have not been translated
into the eleven official languages of the European Union? If so, what arguments would the Commission
use in support of this position? If not, is application of the lifts directive impossible until a translation is
available for manufacturers who speak a different
Italian, Dutch,
Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish)?

language (Danish, Finnish, Greek,

(1) OJ L 213, 7.9.1995, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(19 January 2000)

European standards are drawn up by the European standards bodies in their official languages. In the
1.
case of the European committee for standardisation (CEN) and the European committee for electrotechnical
standardisation (Cenelec),
these are English, French and German. The European telecommunications
standards institute (ETSI) adopts its European standards in English. Such standards have to be transposed
into national standards by the national standards bodies. The internal rules of the European standards
bodies allow, but do not require, translation of European standards. The question of translation is a matter
entirely for the national standards bodies themselves and for national authorities. In various Member
States, translation has been made obligatory.

Given the specific role of harmonized standards, the Commission considers that all parties should have
access to such standards. Depending on the specific nature of the sector and the standard, and the
perceived needs of the market (cid:129) this may imply that there is a need to make those standards available in
the languages of
to national
standards bodies that translate harmonized standards into national languages.

the countries concerned. The Commission provides financial support

2.
Just as with all other (cid:145)new approach(cid:146) directives, the application of standards is voluntary in the
framework of Parliament and Council Directive 95/16/EC of 29 June 1995 on the approximation of the
laws of the Member States relating to lifts. New approach directives can be implemented without standards
or before they become available. Manufacturers have to meet the essential requirements of directives, not
to comply with harmonized standards. Standards are a useful tool to facilitate implementation, which
explains why in most cases harmonized standards are in fact translated.

(2000/C 330 E/008)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2361/99

by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 December 1999)

Subject: Council Directive 96/29/Euratom

Regarding Council Directive 96/29/EURATOM (1), allowing the presence of low level radiation in
1.
certain products, is there any way in which consumers and/or businesses can ascertain which products are
radiation-free and which are not? How does the Commission define which products are radiation-free?

2.
Regarding Council Directive 96/29/EURATOM, allowing the presence of low level radiation in
certain products, does the Commission anticipate any problems resulting from the varying standards

C 330 E/10

Official Journal of the European Communities

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21.11.2000

applied by each Member State to regulation of products emitting low level radiation, for example in
relation to the import of wastes, component and finished products; discharges into air or cross border
waterways; import of meat and livestock from overseas countries whose standards are less strict than the
EU(cid:146)s.

(1) OJ L 159, 29.6.1996, p. 1.

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

(17 January 2000)

Council Directive 96/29/Euratom of 13 May 1996, establishes the basic safety standards for the protection
of the health of workers and the general public against the dangers arising from ionising radiation. The
Directive must be implemented in national legislation by May 2000. It replaces the previous standards laid
down in Council Directive 80/836/Euratom as amended by Directive 84/467/Euratom (1). Since the first
standards were introduced in 1959, revisions have regularly been adopted to take account of evolving
knowledge of the effects of ionising radiation and operational experience in radiation protection.

The new Directive addresses the issue of very low levels of radioactivity in consumer goods in a more
coherent and restrictive way than previously. Exemption values below which sources need not be reported,
are in general much lower than before. This guarantees that such goods can circulate freely. The possible
exposure of the population as a result of trace amounts of radioactivity is negligible.

The basic safety standards ensure uniform introduction in Member States(cid:146) legislation of exemption values.
For the release of materials which can be re-used or recycled, the new Directive specifies the basis for
setting clearance levels. These are set by Member States, taking Community guidance into account.

With regard to discharges of effluents in air or waterways, it is up to Member States to set the discharge
limits, while respecting the dose limit to members of the public. However, under Article 37 of the Euratom
Treaty, Member States submit to the Commission general data on each plan for the disposal of radioactive
waste, and the Commission gives an opinion whether this is liable to affect the environment of other
Member States.

With regard to foodstuffs, Council Regulation (EEC) No 737/90 of 22 March 1990 on the conditions
governing imports of agricultural products originating in third countries following the accident at the
Chernobyl nuclear power station (2) establishes maximum permitted levels of radioactivity for the import
from third countries. Compliance with these levels is ensured by Member States.

(1) OJ L 265, 5.10.1984.
(2) OJ L 82, 29.3.1990.

(2000/C 330 E/009)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2399/99

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(16 December 1999)

Subject: Cleaning up the legacy of asbestos pollution in the European Union

The use of asbestos fibres has been banned since 1997 because of the risk to public health. This legacy of
pollution therefore needs to be disposed of as rapidly and as efficiently as possible. A detailed inventory of
asbestos and clear directives on disposal are of the utmost importance in this respect.

1.
Does the Commission have an accurate and detailed inventory of the (cid:145)historical(cid:146) use of asbestos in the
15 EU Member States on the basis of sales figures of the asbestos producers? If not, will the Commission
set about creating such an inventory so that disposal can be carried out rapidly and efficiently in the near
future?