WRITTEN QUESTION E-0025/00 by Manuel Pérez Álvarez (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Safety of toys.
Date: 2000-01-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European social policy, advertising malpractice, child protection, television, toy industry

24.10.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 303 E/127

(2000/C 303 E/128)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0025/00

by Manuel PØrez `lvarez (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 January 2000)

Subject: Safety of toys

All the year round, and particularly at this season, the media in general and television in particular invade
our lives and homes with advertising for toys, targeted mainly at one particular audience, namely children.

However, as we know, much of this advertising provides very little real information as to the nature and
qualities of the products being marketed.

Given that much of this advertising is simply misleading, what measures have been taken to prevent or
eliminate its pernicious effects?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(24 March 2000)

The television without frontiers Directive, (TVWF) Council Directive 89/552/EEC on the coordination of
certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the
pursuit of television broadcasting activities (1) as amended by Directive 97/36/EC of the Parliament and of
the Council of 30 June 1997 provides the legal
framework for television broadcasting within the
Community.

The TVWF Directive, as adopted in 1989, contained certain provisions relating to television advertising. In
particular, Article 16 specifically provided that television advertising should not cause moral or physical
detriment to minors. When the Directive was reviewed, the Commission undertook to carry out a study on
the impact of television advertising and teleshopping on minors, in the context of the next review of the
television Directive, in accordance with Article 26. This study was launched in January 2000, and should
be finished before the end of the year 2000.

In addition to the television Directive, Council Directive 84/450/CEE of 10 September 1984 relating to the
approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning
misleading advertising (2) applies in a horizontal manner to all advertising.

It should be noted that the Commission is currently encouraging a dialogue between consumer associa-
tions and industry about marketing practices targeting children.

(1) OJ L 202, 30.7.1997.
(2) OJ L 250, 19.9.1984.

(2000/C 303 E/129)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0026/00

by Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(19 January 2000)

Subject: Arms trade

The unregulated trade in arms is a scourge with a destabilising effect. In various regions of the world the
excess supply of arms on the local market (cid:129) sometimes in the literal sense of the word (cid:129) is a permanent
breeding ground for terror and violence.

Underhand practices such as diamond smuggling, extortion and the drugs trade often go hand in hand
with illegal arms dealing. Accordingly, any country governed by the rule of law seeks to divert the arms
trade into legal channels and to impose restrictions on it, albeit in different ways, resulting distortion of
competition.

Which Member States have banned arms trade with countries in conflict?

Which Member States ban exports to countries which do not respect human rights and/or are engaged in
internal armed conflicts in their territory?