WRITTEN QUESTION E-3116/00 by Hiltrud Breyer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Risks presented by the use of chlorpyrifos.
Date: 2000-10-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: dangerous substance, environmental risk prevention, health risk, insecticide, marketing restriction, plant health legislation

C 136 E/186

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.5.2001

2. What were the findings of the promised evaluation of the work of the committee?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(20 October 2000)

1. When selecting the new Advisory Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture, the Commission sought
to strike a balance between the various interests involved in the common fisheries policy. It appointed the
Committee(cid:146)s 31 members for a three-year term. In addition to the 21 members (or over two thirds)
representing the fishing industry, the Committee was expanded to include aquaculture (4 members) and
non-governmental organisations concerned with the environment, development and consumer protection
(6 members).

Of that membership, 22 were appointed on the basis of proposals from European associations or interest
groups (with each of the 11 associations concerned nominating a member and an alternate). The other
9 members comprise the chairmen and deputy chairmen of the Committee(cid:146)s Working Parties.

The Committee(cid:146)s current membership originates from the following Member States: Belgium (2),
Denmark (6), Germany (2), Spain (6),
and
the United Kingdom (4).

Italy (3), Portugal

Ireland (1),

France

(1),

(6),

Committee members are nominated through European associations not in order to achieve a geographical
balance among Member States, but so that those various associations can choose their own representatives.
Committee members thus represent their European association rather than their Member State of origin.

The Commission also seeks to draw on expertise from all the Community(cid:146)s fishery activities when selecting
the Working Parties, whose 20 members are nominated on a case-by-case basis by the European
associations according to the agenda. The Working Parties and the plenary Committee interact with the
aim of reaching a balanced and, if possible, common view.

2.
Since being set up on a permanent basis in July 1999, the Committee has held all the meetings
which it had scheduled at that date and is carrying out most of the programme which it set itself. Specific
lessons regarding new working methods for the sector and for the Commission cannot yet be drawn.
A survey is currently being conducted and is due to be published in a forthcoming issue of
(cid:145)Fishing in Europe(cid:146). The findings should show what the sector itself thinks of the reform.

(2001/C 136 E/217)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3116/00

by Hiltrud Breyer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(6 October 2000)

Subject: Risks presented by the use of chlorpyrifos

The use of the insecticide chlorpyrifos, which is permitted in the EU, is severely restricted in the US.
Products containing chlorpyrifos should not be used in homes, gardens, schools, children(cid:146)s nurseries or
hospitals after the end of 2001.

1.
Is the Commission aware that, according to a study carried out by the US Environmental Protection
Agency, chlorpyrifos should be classed among those chemicals that present an excessive risk to human
health?

2.
Is the
Over 800 individual products are affected by the ban on this insecticide in the US.
Commission aware which products that are permitted in the EU contain chlorpyrifos? If so, could the
Commission list the products concerned?

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Is the Commission aware that there are alternatives to this long-established pesticide? How is the

3.
Commission encouraging its replacement?

4. When does the Commission intend to follow the US example and restrict the use of chlorpyrifos in
the EU, in accordance with the precautionary principle?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(15 November 2000)

The Commission is aware that chlorpyrifos has been reviewed in the United States, has received

1.
copies of the American risk assessments, and has discussed these with the American authorities.

2.
The Commission is developing a database to collect all information on authorized plant protection
products in the Member States. Member States still have to build the electronic interfaces to make the
system work. However, this information is available in the individual Member States.

The Commission has no specific programme to favour the use of alternatives to chlorpyrifos.
in the framework of the research programmes funded by the Commission, proposals for

3.
However,
integrated pest management are eligible for funding.

4.
Chlorpyrifos is a plant protection product currently being evaluated also in the framework of the first
review programme of existing active substances undertaken under Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3600/
92 of 11 December 1992 laying down the detailed rules for the implementation of the first stage of the
programme of work under Article 8(2) of Council Directive 91/414/EEC concerning the placing of plant
protection products on the market (1). The objective of the evaluation is to determine whether it can be
included in a positive list of substances (Annex I to Council Directive 91/414/EEC of 15 July 1991, on the
placing of plant protection products on the market (2)) that can be used in plant protection products in
theCommunity. The Regulation provided that notifiers should submit all the information required by the
Directive. This includes information on effects on human and animal health and the environment.
The information had to be submitted before 30 April 1995, to the rapporteur Member State (for
chlorpyrifos, Spain). Any interested party could also submit by that date technical or scientific information
with regard to the potentially dangerous effects of the substance or its residues on human or animal health
or on the environment. The rapporteur Member State reviewed all information submitted for chlorpyrifos
and prepared a draft assessment report on it. This was submitted on 7 May 1999 to the Commission and
the other Member States.

According to the usual procedures provided in the Regulation, the monograph was immediately forwarded
for expert consultation (peer-review) with specialised experts from five Member States to examine in detail
all areas of human health and environmental safety. The monograph and the results of the peer review for
chlorpyrifos were discussed by all Member States in the meeting of the evaluation working group of the
standing committee on plant health in July 2000. As a result several data requirements were identified
which were discussed end of October 2000 at a meeting with the notifier, the rapporteur Member State
and the Commission. The conclusions of this meeting will be referred to the standing committee on plant
health. Depending on the outcome of these discussions the scientific committee for plants will be
consulted in due course.

(1) OJ L 366, 15.12.1992.
(2) OJ L 230, 19.8.1991.