WRITTEN QUESTION E-2620/00 by Laura González Álvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Unauthorised dumping of waste in Bañeza (Léon, Spain).
Date: 2000-08-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Castile-Leon, EU control, European Commission, public health, unauthorised dumping, waste incineration, waste management

18.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 113 E/135

(2001/C 113 E/138)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2617/00

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(1 August 2000)

Subject: Black and white television sets/general system of preferences

Can the Commission clarify which imports into the EU are covered by the general system of preferences?

How have black and white television sets been dealt with under this scheme?

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(26 September 2000)

The product coverage of the Community(cid:146)s scheme of generalized system of preferences (GSP) is laid down
in Annexes I and VII of Council Regulation (EC) No 2820/98 of 21 December 1998 applying a
multiannual scheme of generalised tariff preferences for the period 1 July 1999 to 31 December 2001 (1).

from the preferential

tariff rates, a product must (cid:145)originate(cid:146)

In order to benefit
in an eligible GSP
beneficiary country, according to the origin criteria laid down under the Community customs code
Commission Regulation (EC) No 2454/93 of 2 July 1993 laying down provisions for the implementation
of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community customs code (2), as amended by
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1602/00 of 24 July 2000 (3). Furthermore, a GSP Form A certificate of
origin,
issued by the relevant governmental body of the beneficiary country must be presented when
clearing through customs in the Community.

Black-and-white television receivers of combined nomenclature code 8528 13 00 are covered by the
Community(cid:146)s GSP scheme. They are regarded as (cid:145)non-sensitive(cid:146) in the Community(cid:146)s current scheme, and
accordingly can be imported free of customs duty (Article 2(4) of Regulation (EC) No 2820/98), the
normal rate of the common customs tariff in 2000 being 2 %. By virtue of the graduation rules provided in
Article 3 of that regulation, duty-free admission does not apply to Malaysian products.

Two alternative origin criteria apply to these television receivers. The value of
the non-originating
materials used must not exceed 40 % of the ex-works price of the product, where the value of all non-
originating materials used does not exceed the value of the originating materials used or the value of the
non-originating materials used must not exceed 25 % of the ex-works price of the product.

(1) OJ L 357, 30.12.1998.
(2) OJ L 253, 11.10.1993.
(3) OJ L 188, 26.7.2000.

(2001/C 113 E/139)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2620/00

by Laura GonzÆlez `lvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Unauthorised dumping of waste in Baæeza (LØon, Spain)

(1 August 2000)

There is an unauthorised waste tip in Baæeza which is posing serious problems for local residents. Waste is
being burnt in a dangerous manner and the situation is becoming worse every day.

C 113 E/136

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2001

What initiatives can the Commission take to guarantee that the management of waste in the municipality
of Baæeza does not endanger public health or the environment and to ensure that relevant Community
legislation is complied with, particularly the provisions laid down in Articles 4 and 9 of Directive 75/442/
EEC (1) on waste, as amended by Directive 91/156/EEC (2)?

(1) OJ L 194, 25.7.1975, p. 39.
(2) OJ L 78, 26.3.1991, p. 32.

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

(3 October 2000)

The Commission had not been aware of the situation referred to by the Honourable Member.

Council Directive 75/442/EEC, as amended by Directive 91/156/EEC of 18 March 1991 on waste provides
that Member States shall take any action needed in order to ensure that waste is either disposed of or
recovered without posing a threat to human health and without using methods that are likely to have an
adverse effect on the environment. In order to implement that provision any establishment or undertaking
involved in waste disposal operations must obtain a permit from the authority responsible for implement-
ing the Directive.

As the guardian of the Treaty the Commission will take any action needed in order to ensure compliance
with Community law in this particular instance.

(2001/C 113 E/140)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2622/00

by Ulpu Iivari (PSE) to the Commission

(1 August 2000)

Subject: Monitoring of the distribution of EU food aid

It has been reported in Finland that, together with EU food aid, foodstuffs from other sources whose use-
by dates were past and which were therefore unsuitable for consumption have been distributed. This has
given the impression that the EU distributes to its less affluent citizens foodstuffs which are perished.

Do the rules and instructions concerning the distribution of food aid forbid distributors of EU aid to

1.
distribute food from other sources which has passed its use-by date?

2.

If not, how will the Commission secure amendments to the rules and instructions?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(9 October 2000)

The regulatory provisions adopted by the Community (1) provide for distribution of products of Commun-
ity origin held in intervention storage and products made from these. This may extend to exchange of
products withdrawn from intervention storage for equivalent products that will be distributed to the needy.
The Commission draws up annual plans that the Member States execute. It is they who designate the
organisations which distribute the foodstuffs.

The rules incorporate a timetable. The whole distribution exercise, from the withdrawal from intervention
stocks to the supply to charitable organisations must respect several time limits. This enables the whole
operation to be run in the form of (cid:145)annual plans(cid:146).