WRITTEN QUESTION E-2646/00 by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Dangers, similar to those posed by asbestos, from transitional fibres in children's chalks.
Date: 2000-08-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European social policy, market approval, product safety, toy industry

C 103 E/204

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.4.2001

(2001/C 103 E/232)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2643/00

by Jaime Valdivielso de CuØ (PPE-DE) to the Council

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Trade

On 22 May 2000 the Council approved, by a simple majority, the application of anti-dumping duties to
four new exporters of bicycles from Taiwan. The anti-dumping duties will be set at 5,4 %, after the firms
concerned cooperated in the original investigation.

What compensation will be provided for Community and in particular Spanish manufacturers?

Reply

(10 November 2000)

Anti-dumping policy aims to remedy distortions of international trade which can create unfair competition
in the Community market and consequently injure the domestic industry.

As a result, anti-dumping measures adopted by the Council do not provide for any additional compensa-
tion for Community manufacturers.

(2001/C 103 E/233)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2646/00

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(1 August 2000)

Subject: Dangers, similar to those posed by asbestos, from (cid:145)transitional fibres(cid:146) in children(cid:146)s chalks

According to the New York Times of 14 June 2000 in the United States the Consumer Product Safety
Commission recently tested 25 wax-covered chalks and discovered that 21 of them contain an asbestos-
like substance known as (cid:145)transitional fibre(cid:146).

Although, in the Safety Commission(cid:146)s view, the risk of dangerous exposure to asbestos or asbestos-like
substances is small, because the chalks are covered in wax, it felt action was needed on the basis of the
precautionary principle in order to protect children(cid:146)s health.

Earlier studies have also established that asbestos or (cid:145)transitional fibres(cid:146) are present in children(cid:146)s chalks.
Major manufacturers in the United States have voluntarily agreed to replace these fibres within one year.

Is the Commission aware of this problem concerning chalks manufactured in or imported into the
European Union and, if so, what action does it propose in order to deal with the possible danger to
children(cid:146)s health?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(12 October 2000)

Earlier this year the Commission became aware of reports in the United States press concerning the
possible presence of asbestos and the so-called (cid:145)transitional-fibres(cid:146)
in talcum powder used in the
manufacture of children(cid:146)s crayons.

3.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 103 E/205

The Commission has since contacted the United States consumer product safety commission (CPSC) to
seek factual information on these reports and in particular the levels and types of fibres found and the
types and brands of products. The CPSC has shared its preliminary findings as presented in the press
release quoted by the New York Times of 14 June 2000 mentioned by the Honourable Member. The CPSC
is in the process of finalising the results of the study and has agreed to provide the Commission with a
copy of the report.

In parallel, the Commission has informed the members of the emergencies committee of Council Directive
92/59/EEC of 29 June 1992, on general product safety (1) of this potential problem and has requested any
pertinent information which may be available to the Member States.

If the reports are confirmed, the Commission will
inform the Member States in order to ensure that
products containing the asbestos fibres are considered for appropriate market restrictions in line with the
current provisions of Council Directive 76/769/EEC of 27 July 1976 on the approximation of the laws,
regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to restrictions on the marketing
and use of certain dangerous substances and preparations (2).

(1) OJ L 228, 11.8.1992.
(2) OJ L 262, 27.9.1976.

(2001/C 103 E/234)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2661/00

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Persecution in the Moluccas

The European Parliament has already adopted two resolutions on human rights violations in the Moluccas
(Indonesia), the first in January 2000 and the second in July 2000,
in order to protest against the
persecution of Christians and the devastation of villages inhabited by Indonesians practising the Christian
religion, violations which have now been going on for months.

Can the Commission indicate what it has done on the basis of those two resolutions to bring about a
genuine improvement in the situation?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(12 September 2000)

The Commission closely follows events in the archipelago and shares the concerns expressed by the
Honourable Member, in particular with regard to the apparent incapacity of the Indonesian security forces
to control the violence.

Together with the majority of the international community, the Commission considers that the conflict in
the Moluccas is primarily an internal matter for Indonesia. Up until now, the Indonesian government has
refused foreign assistance to help solve the crisis, as only humanitarian assistance has been accepted.

Against this background, the Commission through its European Community(cid:146)s Humanitarian Office (ECHO)
has intervened in the Moluccas, as far as the security situation has permitted,
in order to ease the
humanitarian tragedy. Since 1999, assistance has been provided through non governmental organizations
(NGOs) to the victims of the conflict,
including displaced people. However, the precarious security
situation and a deliberate government policy to restrict access to the island has temporarily halted
operations of partner NGOs.