WRITTEN QUESTION E-2504/99 by Astrid Thors (ELDR) to the Commission. New toxic substances harmful to the environment discovered in food.
Date: 1999-12-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU environmental policy, carcinogenic substance, consumer protection, dangerous substance, environmental protection, food inspection, foodstuff, health control, pollutant, waste management

21.11.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 330 E/15

including the fulfilment of the above
In order to monitor and evaluate the application of the plans,
provisions, a monitoring committee will be established for each applicant country and rules and
procedures for reports are established in the plans.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.
(2) OJ L 331, 23.12.1999.

(2000/C 330 E/014)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2504/99

by Astrid Thors (ELDR) to the Commission

(22 December 1999)

Subject: New toxic substances harmful to the environment discovered in food

According to an article in the Swedish newspaper (cid:145)Dagens Nyheter(cid:146) of 11 October 1999, Swedish scientists
have found a new substance that is harmful to the environment and causes cancer. Brominated flame
retardants (TeBDE) from discarded electrical domestic appliances are now found in high concentrations in
herring and Baltic herring. The concentrations are still low in meat, butter and cheese, but the discovery is
alarming for two reasons; firstly the concentrations will increase as fast as PCBs, and secondly, the toxins
to the
from the flame retardants must be added together with other substances that are harmful
environment, such as PCBs, so that the total health risk can be estimated.

Is the Commission aware of this new discovery, and does it intend to take any action regarding the matter?

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

(25 February 2000)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the answers to written questions E-3004/98 by
Mr Eisma (1), P-1976/99 by Mrs Sch(cid:246)rling (2) and to the oral question H-776/99 by Mrs Sch(cid:246)rling during
question time at Parliament(cid:146)s December 1999 part-session (3).

Furthermore, following the submission of a memorandum from Denmark and Sweden, a discussion took
place at the Environment Council on 13 December 1999 about the need for urgent Community measures
in respect of brominated flame retardants.

In this context the Commission recalled that comprehensive risk assessments on three brominated flame
retardants, undertaken in accordance with Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 on the evaluation and
control of the risks of existing substances (4), are currently underway. When the risk assessment reports are
finalised they will be presented for independent peer-review to the scientific committee for toxicity,
ecotoxicity and the environment.

The member of the Commission responsible for the Environment wrote on 15 December 1999 to the
ministers of the Member States responsible to urge completion of the risk assessments as soon as possible.

Once the reports have been finalised, the Commission will publish the results in the Official journal and
propose further risk reduction measures, if necessary.

Given that increased concentrations of five polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) congeners have been
found in the blood of workers at recycling plants and that future Community legislation on waste electrical
and electronic equipment (WEEE) will increase significantly the recycling of PBDE containing plastics, the
substitution of these brominated flame retardants in the production of new electrical and electronic
equipment is currently discussed within the Commission.

(1) OJ C 142, 21.5.1999.
(2) OJ C 203 E, 18.7.2000, p. 101.
(3) Debates of the European Parliament (December 1999).
(4) OJ L 84, 5.4.1993.