WRITTEN QUESTION E-0187/00 by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Dioxin scare and PVC.
Date: 2000-01-31
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU environmental policy, import restriction, plastics, toxic substance

26.1.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 26 E/15

to a question from the German authorities. Having studied the dossier provided by the Italian authorities,
and with regard to the restrictions placed on the movement of tourist coaches in the city centre, the
Commission finds that the Italian authorities have not infringed Community law.

Given the large numbers of visitors expected in Rome during the year 2000 (around 29 million visitors,
with between 2 000 and 2 500 coaches per day), the plan drawn up by the city authorities has several
objectives. It is designed to conserve the city(cid:146)s cultural and architectural heritage, protect the health and
quality of life of the people of Rome and limit the already serious levels of pollution.

To this end, the city authorities are planning to divide the city into a number of zones, some of which will
be off limits to all traffic. However, sites will be provided for tourist coaches, facilities will be organised for
setting travellers down in the city centre, and city centre access control points will be set up at which
coaches will be directed to specified parking areas. Exceptions will be made for certain categories of
traveller, such as the handicapped. Measures will be taken to improve the city(cid:146)s urban transport network
and road signs. All the contracts for carrying out these measures will be awarded via invitation to tender
so as to ensure transparency and the requisite competition.

These measures are in line with Council Regulation (EEC) No 684/92 (1) as amended by Council Regulation
(EC) No 11/98 on common rules for the international carriage of passengers by coach and bus, (2) and in
particular Article 12, which allows local excursions to be carried out within the framework of an
international service. It should be borne in mind that the main purpose of Regulation (EEC) No 684/92
is to regulate international transport. Local authorities(cid:146) policing powers allow them to regulate local traffic.
The application of Regulation (EEC) No 684/92 is without prejudice to the application of this policing
power as proposed by the City of Rome.

Accordingly, the Commission does not envisage initiating proceedings against Italy for infringement of
Council Regulation (EEC) No 684/92.

The plan submitted by the Italian authorities does not indicate the existence of an entry charge. In any
event, as local taxes are not harmonised at Community level, the introduction of an entry charge on tourist
coaches could not run counter to Community law unless it contained discriminatory provisions, such as
the application of a higher charge for coaches from other Member States.

(1) OJ L 74, 20.3.1992.
(2) OJ L 4, 8.1.1998.

(2001/C 26 E/018)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0187/00

by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(31 January 2000)

Subject: Dioxin scare and PVC

The WHO currently recommends that exposure should not top 1,4 TEQ/kg body weight per day,
including dioxins and dioxin-like substances. In a recent report published on 30 November 1999, EU
experts estimated the average dietary exposure for consumers within the EU to be as high as 2,6 TEQ/kg
body weight per day. The average EU citizen therefore consumes more dioxin and dioxin-like substances
than is acceptable according to the WHO. This means that the daily intake of these hazardous substances
by the most vulnerable groups, such as babies and children, is clearly above the WHO recommendations.
This situation has to changes as soon as possible.

Which measures does the Commission intend to take in order to reduce adverse health effects related to
exposure to dioxins?

C 26 E/16

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

26.1.2001

Can the Commission indicate, or give an estimate of, how the present situation could be improved with
one of the following three alternatives: an EU-ban on soft PVCs, an EU ban on hard PVCs or an EU ban on
all PVCs?

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

(17 April 2000)

The policy of the Commission to reduce adverse health effects related to dioxins focusses on reducing
human exposure to these compounds (dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs).

More than 90 % of human exposure to dioxins derives from food, the rest being accounted for by
inhalation from air and ingestion of particles from air,
ingestion of contaminated soil and dermal
absorption. Additionally, about 90 % of the exposure from food derives from foods of animal origin. The
animals are themselves contaminated through feed and general environmental contamination.

Surveys of food contamination and consumption now appear to confirm a decrease in human exposure to
dioxins of a factor of 2 to 3 between the 70(cid:146)s (cid:129) 80(cid:146)s and the late 90(cid:146)s although some data gaps exist. The
estimated average dietary exposure for consumers within the Community is currently in the range 1-3 pg
TEQ/kg body weight/day. This does not include dioxin-like PCBs, which are estimated to contribute
roughly 50 % of total dietary exposure measured as TEQs. If dioxin-like PCBs are taken into account,
exposure could be in the range of 2-6 pg TEQ/kg body weight/day. The World Health Organisation
currently recommends that exposure should not exceed 1-4 TEQ/kg body weight/day,
including both
dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs.

Further reductions in human exposure to dioxins will come from two fronts, firstly a reduction in the flow
of dioxins into the food chain through new proposals to limit dioxin content of animal feed (limits on
foodstuffs are also being examined) and secondly a further tightening of environmental emission standards.
One concrete measure is the adoption of the proposed directive on the incineration of waste (1) foreseen
for later this year. Further general reduction of emissions due to European environmental policy (e.g.
through the progressive application of the IPPC directive) will also help improve the situation over the
long term.

A ban on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products would not have a direct effect on exposure to dioxins since
PVC does not contain or release dioxins during use. PVC is the largest source of chlorine entering
incinerators (50 %) and its contribution to the overall level of emissions of dioxins by waste incinerators
has been at the centre of a major scientific debate. However, other waste streams (e.g. paper (cid:129) 11 %,
putrescibles (cid:129) 17 %) also account for significant fractions of the chlorine entering waste incinerators and
the new directive on the incineration of waste will considerably reduce the overall contribution of this
source to dioxin emissions.

In order to reduce further the potential adverse health effects related to exposure to dioxins,
the
Commission has also been funding research on the risk of environmental dioxins. A project from the
Fourth RTD framework programme has recently been completed ((cid:145)Risks of environmental dioxins: linking
epidemiology with toxicity studies to strengthen accurate risk assessment(cid:146)) and a new project ((cid:145)Compre-
hensive risk analysis of dioxins: development of a methodology to assess genetic susceptibility to
developmental disturbances and cancer(cid:146)) has just been started. While the first study did not support the
prevailing hypothesis that dioxins at present concentrations would be a risk factor for soft tissue sarcoma,
it actually found that usual population background exposure to dioxins is associated with lower cancer risk
than near zero concentrations. The objective of the new study is to set a scientifically defendable limit of
safe exposure to dioxins, as to developmental effects and cancer.

(1) OJ C 372, 2.12.1998.