WRITTEN QUESTION E-2647/00 by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. List of dangerous chemicals.
Date: 2000-08-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: biodegradability, chemical product, dangerous substance, environmental protection

8.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 136 E/65

Community law, it is responsibility of Member States to ensure that air carriers comply with the relevant
Community legislation. In the event that Member States fail to fulfil their obligations the Commission may
initiate infringement procedures under Article 226 (ex-Article 169) of the EC Treaty.

(1) COM(2000) 365 final.
(2) OJ L 36, 8.2.1991.

(2001/C 136 E/072)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2647/00

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

(1 August 2000)

Subject: List of dangerous chemicals

1.
Can the European Commission give a detailed overview (number, name, reasons for use) of the
dangerous chemicals which can legally be traded on the European market, which are not 50 % biodegrad-
able within six months and which can bio-accumulate up to a factor of 5 000 (measured as a bio-
concentration factor in fish)? This bio-accumulation formula has been proposed by the Swedish authorities
(see http://www.chemicals.sustainable-sweden.gov.se).

2.
Can the European Commission give a detailed overview (number, name and reasons for use) of a
sub-group of dangerous chemicals, i.e. those which are not 50 % biodegradable within eightweeks and
which can bio-accumulate up to a factor of 2 000 (measured as a bio-concentration factor in fish)?

3.
Should it not be possible to provide a full overview of all dangerous chemicals, can the European
Commission instead give an overview of the dangerous chemicals traded on the European market in
volumes of more than 1 000 tons per year?

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

(31 October 2000)

The Commission has data available on the 2700 (cid:145)new(cid:146) chemicals placed on the market since 1981. A rapid
screening gave the results presented below (for confidentiality reasons no detailed list of substance names
can be given).

Among the (cid:145)new(cid:146) dangerous chemicals, 6 % are biodegradable to less than 50 % within six months and at
the same time have a bio-accumulation factor (calculated from physico-chemical properties) of over 5 000.
They have a wide range of uses, in particular as colouring and photographical agents, as stabilisers as well
as intermediates in chemical reactions. They are applied in the polymer photographical and chemical
industries.

Among the (cid:145)new(cid:146) dangerous chemicals, 10 % are biodegradable to less than 50 % within two months and at
the same time have a bio-accumulation factor (calculated from physico-chemical properties) of over 2 000.
Their main uses are the same as the chemicals mentioned above.

For (cid:145)existing(cid:146) chemicals, which constitute over 95 % of the volume of chemicals on the market, the
Commission has data available for substance volumes of 1 000 tonnes or more per year and manufacturer
or importer. A detailed study concerning biodegradability and bio-accumulation is currently ongoing and
will be completed in early 2001.