WRITTEN QUESTION E-0007/00 by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission. Measures to combat drugs in the Region of Lazio.
Date: 2000-01-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU policy - national policy, EU publication, Latium, drug addiction, infringement of EU law, principle of subsidiarity

C 280 E/154

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.10.2000

The study, aimed at assessing the potential risks that might put into jeopardy a high level of health
protection for patients and consumers, focused on dental amalgam, composite resins, coating and on the
biocompatibility and toxicological aspects of a number of alloys used in dentistry, in particular those based
on nickel, palladium, silver, gold, cobalt.

The main conclusions of the report indicate that all dental restorative materials, including dental amalgam
as well as its alternatives, i.e. alloys or resins, have the potential to cause some adverse reactions. The
casting alloys have the potential to cause allergy. It is believed that dental casting alloys, whilst eliciting
reactions in sensitised individuals, do not generally induce sensitisation. Allergic reactions to metal alloys,
however, are rarely reported. Problems are usually resolved following the removal of the material. The
prevalence of adverse effects related to dental restorative materials and patients is generally low. Available
data is sparse; literature overviews and research articles indicate this to be less than 0,1 % of the general
population. The risk-benefit ratio corresponds to the currently acknowledged and accepted state of the art.

The standards that support Directive 93/42/EEC represent the current state of the art. The Commission
therefore considers that this Directive provides an appropriate legal framework for dental restorative
materials, and that no modification of this legislation is needed at this stage. Nevertheless, the Commission
will closely follow the development of scientific knowledge in this area and draw appropriate conclusions
as concerns Directive 93/42/EEC.

Directive 92/59/EEC, on general product safety, defines in its article 2 a) (cid:145)safe product(cid:146) as (cid:145)any
2.
product which (cid:133) does not present any risk or only the minimum risks compatible with the product(cid:146)s use,
considered as acceptable and consistent with a high level of protection for the safety and health(cid:146). At this
stage the scientific data available do not permit the conclusion that the use in dentistry of cobalt and nickel
is incompatible with the definition of safe product of the Directive, taking also into account the benefits of
such use. Therefore, the Commission does not plan action at this stage concerning the use of cobalt or
nickel alloys without coating. However, the Commission will carefully follow the development of the
scientific knowledge in this area.

(1) OJ L 169, 12.7.1993.

(2000/C 280 E/175)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0007/00

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(19 January 2000)

Subject: Measures to combat drugs in the Region of Lazio

In its Decision No 5057 of 5 October 1999 the Region of Lazio laid down the criteria for allocating
funding to combat drugs. The decision sets strict conditions for policies in the sector, especially at local
authority level, obliging such authorities to comply with the provisions established by the regional
government. Instead of laying down the criteria and terms for the submission of applications for funding,
leaving scope for public and private projects (as intended in Law No 45/99), the decision specifies in detail
both the content and form of measures, all of which are aimed at (cid:145)damage limitation(cid:146). All of this happens
without in any way involving the local authorities (as specified by the law), which are by their very nature
closer to the territory involved. This has prompted some of them, for example the local authority of
Latina, to lodge an appeal with the Administrative Court of Lazio. The Decision inhibits prevention
measures, since according to its terms only projects targeting individuals at risk are eligible for funding,
whereas there should be more scope for prevention, as envisaged in the law and in many Community
decisions. The decision does not make provision for curing addicts. Since funding is envisaged for
returning addicts to work and the concept of rehabilitation is replaced by damage limitation,
the
implication is that in the Region of Lazio the people who are to be found jobs are those who still use
drugs, rather than those who have been cured, which is tantamount to legalising drugs.

3.10.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 280 E/155

In view of the above, can the Commission say:

1. whether it does not consider that the Regional decree is clearly in conflict with Community decisions,

which indicate that the priority for the Member States should be prevention and cure;

2. whether it does not consider that the decision is in conflict with the principles of subsidiarity
underpinning the European Union, which would entail the involvement of the local authorities most
immediately concerned, possibly with the assistance of non-profit making associations and organisa-
tions;

3. whether there is any documentation drawn up by the Commission or the Drugs Monitoring Centre in

Lisbon on examples of good practice in the fight against drugs?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(17 February 2000)

Since 1995 the Commission has emphasised that effective action to combat drugs required a comprehen-
sive and integrated approach. This does not mean that everyone must fight on all fronts and at all levels at
the same time. It means that co-ordination and interaction of players and approaches must be ensured to
reach maximum efficiency.

The Commission would reply to the three specific points underlined by the Honourable Member as
follows:

1.

2.

In the Commission(cid:146)s communication on a European Union action plan to combat drugs
(2000-2004) (1) a comprehensive approach is considered to be the best strategy to meet future
problems. Such an approach should cover all areas of drug abuse prevention, from discouraging the
initial use to reducing the negative health and social consequences of drug abuse. This approach
should indeed be grounded in a comprehensive strategy that can be used to drive the cost-effective
allocation of resources.

In areas like drug issues, which do not fall within its exclusive competence, the Community in
accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, shall take action only if and insofar as the objectives
cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States. On this basis the Commission could not
intervene in decisions taken on a regional or local level.

3. The European monitoring centre for drugs and drug addiction (EMCDDA) publishes an annual report
on the state of the drugs problem in the Community which gives an up-to-date picture of trends and
patterns in drug use in Europe. Information on evaluated European drug demand reduction projects is
also available on the Internet, through the web site of the (http://www.emcdda.org/). This offers a
valuable tool for learning from experience of similar kinds of projects elsewhere in the Community.

(1) COM(99) 239 final.

(2000/C 280 E/176)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0009/00

by SØrgio Marques (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 January 2000)

Subject: Disaster in Venezuela

Shortly before Christmas, continuous rainfall (the heaviest in living memory) caused flooding in Venezuela,
the effects of which constitute what is perhaps the greatest natural disaster to have occurred in recent
years. It is feared that over 30 000 people may have died, whilst the number of homeless is estimated to
be in the hundreds of thousands. Whole conurbations disappeared under a sea of mud and have become
mass graves. Infrastructures (basic sanitation, drinking water, communications, healthcare and schools)
have been almost entirely swept away and economic activity is at a standstill.