WRITTEN QUESTION E-1409/00 by David Sumberg (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Consumer protection ‐ fire prevention in the home.
Date: 2000-05-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European social policy, accident in the home, inflammable product, television equipment

C 46 E/188

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.2.2001

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(8 June 2000)

The European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) is a private organisation which is free to establish the
standards it deems necessary or useful for economic operators as a whole. The Commission has no
influence on the choices made by the CEN in this context.

However, the Commission can ask the European standardisation bodies, of which the CEN is one, to draw
up harmonised European standards to meet the essential requirements of the (cid:145)New Approach(cid:146) Directives.
Indeed, this was the case with (cid:145)New Approach(cid:146) Directive 89/686/EEC relating to personal protective
equipment (1), referred to as the PPE Directive.

Since 1994, the CEN, the Commission, experts of the Member States and various organisations represent-
ing manufacturers have been holding discussions on the rules concerning clothing for motorcyclists within
the meaning of the PPE Directive. The results of these discussions have been approved by the Member
States: clothing for motorcyclists (in addition to gloves, boots and shoes) does not constitute PPE unless the
manufacturer claims, or implies in sales literature or advertising, that the garment as a whole provides
special protection. In that case, the manufacturer must meet the essential requirements of Directive 89/
686/EEC. Protective equipment such as elbow and knee protectors, which may also be built into clothing
for motorcyclists, is always PPE.

Only one standard (EN 1621-2 (draft))
is currently being drawn up in the area of clothing for
motorcyclists. It concerns the requirements and test methods for back protectors used in motorcycle
rider(cid:146)s protective clothing to protect against mechanical
impact. The last draft for this standard was
submitted by the CEN in February 1999. It will complement standard EN 1621-1 on protectors, which
was adopted in 1997.

(1) OJ L 399, 30.12.1989.

(2001/C 46 E/221)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1409/00

by David Sumberg (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Consumer protection (cid:129) fire prevention in the home

(5 May 2000)

In view of the relationship between household electrical goods and the incidence of fire and the need,
therefore, to educate consumers as to the potential causes of fire in the home, what data does the
Commission have on television fires in the European Union and can the Commission specify which
models of television sets are most frequently involved in fires?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(16 June 2000)

The Commission attaches a high priority to fire safety.

The safety of electrical household appliances is regulated primarily by the low voltage Directive, Council
Directive 73/23/EEC of 19 February 1973 on the harmonization of the laws of Member States relating to
electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits (1). Aspects relating to fire safety of
television sets are more specifically addressed in harmonised standard EN 60065:1998, (cid:145)Audio, video and
similar electronic apparatus (cid:129) Safety requirements(cid:146) adopted by the European committee for electrotechni-
cal standardisation Cenelec.

The Commission has received no information from national authorities about types of television sets most
likely to be the source of an ignition consequently leading to a fire. The Commission is aware of studies in
Sweden but the final report will not be available before this autumn. The Commission raised with national

13.2.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 46 E/189

authorities in charge of the enforcement of the low voltage Directive during their meeting in April 2000
the data on television sets being involved in incidents of fire. The Commission has asked Member States to
provide more detailed information on this subject.

The need for further action will be considered on the basis of the data received from Member States.

(1) OJ L 77, 26.3.1973.

(2001/C 46 E/222)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1411/00

by Per Gahrton (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Details concerning information about the euro

(3 May 2000)

Can the Commission provide details of all books, brochures and other printed matter being published and
details of conferences and other activities taking place to (cid:145)provide information about the euro(cid:146)? Will it also
state the cost of each activity and say under which budget heading they are entered?

(2001/C 46 E/223)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1495/00

by Per Gahrton (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(11 May 2000)

Subject:

(cid:145)Infeuro(cid:146)

What does it cost to publish (cid:145)Infeuro(cid:146) in all the languages?

(2001/C 46 E/224)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1496/00

by Per Gahrton (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(11 May 2000)

Subject: Swedish edition of (cid:145)Infeuro(cid:146)

What does it cost to publish the Swedish edition of (cid:145)Infeuro(cid:146)?

Joint answer
to Written Questions P-1411/00, E-1495/00 and E-1496/00
given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(9 June 2000)

The InfEuro newsletter is published in 11 languages and has a total circulation of 380 000. Some 7 000
copies are printed for the Swedish edition. The cost of publishing and distributing one issue is as follows:
€ 65 000 for pre-press work, € 45 000 for printing and € 70 000 for distribution (mailing lists). In other
words, the total cost per issue is € 180 000 (the single unit cost per issue is € 0,47).

With regard to overall budgetary aspects, the Honourable Member may refer to the tables sent directly to
him and to the Parliament(cid:146)s General Secretariat. These tables show the details of agreements concluded
with the Member States which decided to enter into partnerships with the Union, the breakdown by
category of the cost of activities planned in 2000 and the breakdown of expenditure in the previous two
financial years.