WRITTEN QUESTION P-3542/00 by Torben Lund (PSE) to the Commission. Lead.
Date: 2000-11-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European social policy, lead, legal basis, metal pollution, toxic substance

22.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 151 E/187

Despite the significant progress made in these three rounds, especially on the issue of fishing opportunities
and financial compensation, it proved impossible to conclude an agreement. The Commission, with the full
approval of the Member States concerned (most notably Spain), could not accept Cape Verde(cid:146)s insistence
that a condition be inserted in the protocol obliging surface long-liners to land their catches in the port of
Mindelo. The Commission will make every effort to conclude this agreement as soon as possible. Cape
Verde has not yet set a new date for negotiations, however.

Turning to Senegal, the Commission and Member States together have begun to prepare for the first round
of negotiations to renew the current protocol, which expires on 30 April 2001. Negotiations should start
early in 2001. When the Commissioner responsible for Fisheries met the Senegalese Fisheries Minister on
19 October 2000, he reiterated the Community(cid:146)s wish to maintain the good relations it enjoys with
Senegal in this field.

In the case of Brazil, the Commission is committed to exploring the possibilities for developing bilateral
cooperation on fisheries, including the issue of Community access to Brazilian waters. The Commission
has invited the Brazilian authorities to Brussels with a view to initiating exploratory talks on this subject
before the end of the year.

The Commission is studying a possible bilateral tuna fisheries agreement with the Republic of Kiribati and
is analysing the implications this would have for the mid-western Pacific.

(2001/C 151 E/215)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3535/00

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(13 November 2000)

Subject: Free movement of labour for all industries

In view of the response to my question No E-2823/00 (1) on the free movement of labour by Commis-
sioner Diamantopoulou, which seems to indicate that the free movement of labour is set at the minimum
age of each Member State, will the Commission not confirm that this provision will apply across all
industries in the European Union including the football industry?

(1) OJ C 136 E, 8.5.2001, p. 101.

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(19 December 2000)

The Community law provisions on the free movement of workers apply to all Union citizens who have
reached the minimum age fixed by the host Member State for access to its labour market including sports
activities.

(2001/C 151 E/216)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3542/00

by Torben Lund (PSE) to the Commission

(8 November 2000)

Subject: Lead

The severely harmful effects of lead on human health are well documented internationally and recognised
by the WHO. Harmful effects on the environment are also internationally documented. Lead is used in
thousands of products. Each single product containing lead does not always (cid:129) in isolation (cid:129) constitute a
serious problem but the impact of the total quantity of lead is a very serious health and environmental
problem.

C 151 E/188

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

22.5.2001

Does the Commission intend to submit a proposal to prohibit the production, sale and imports of lead and
products containing lead?

If so, the proposal should cover all finished products containing lead and should lay down a comprehen-
sive timetable for phasing out such products.

Will the Commission also say what prohibitions and restrictions on the use of lead exist under current
legislation, and what prohibitions and restrictions on its use are contained in proposals submitted for
directives and regulations?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(12 December 2000)

The Commission is well aware of the harmful effects of lead on human health and on the environment.
The risks related to the use of lead have been addressed for quite some time in Community legislation.

In terms of hazard, most lead compounds are classified as toxic to reproduction, harmful, dangerous for
the environment (ecotoxic) and presenting a danger of cumulative effects according to Council Directive
67/548/EEC of 27 June 1967 on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions
relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances (1). In addition exposure of
humans and of the environment to lead compounds from such sources as air, soil, and food is well
documented.

In specific situations where exposure to lead has been assessed, the Commission has put in place measures
to replace lead in petrol, in paints (8th amendment 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)), in vehicles
(under Directive 2000/53/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 18 September 2000 on end-of life
vehicles (3)), and to impose limits on the concentration of lead in the air (Council Directive 82/884/EEC of
3 December 1982 on a limit value for lead in the air (4)), and in water (Council Directive 98/83/EEC of
3 November 1998 on the quality of water intended for human consumption (5)). The recent proposal for a
directive on the restriction of
the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic
equipment (6) foresees a substitution of lead in electrical and electronic equipment with few exceptions.
In addition, the Commission proposed to include lead in the list of priority substances under the Water
Framework Directive (7). Subject to its adoption by the Council and the Parliament, the Commission will
propose quality standards for surface and coastal waters and emission controls within two years thereafter.

In its recent opinion in the context of a notification of Denmark on lead (98/595/DK), the scientific
committee on toxicity, ecotoxicity and the environment (SCTEE, opinion of 5th May 2000, http://
europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/sct/outcome_en.html) stated that these Community measures has contribu-
ted to an overall decrease in lead exposure to humans and the environment. The SCTEE also concluded
that the main source of exposure to lead comes from historic uses, in particular from dust and land
contaminated by the use of lead in paints and petrol.

Furthermore, the Commission has requested the SCTEE to assess the overall risks of lead to human health
and the environment from all sources. On the request of the SCTEE, the Commission is commissioning
independent studies to collect technical and toxicological information on which to elaborate the opinion.
The Commission will use the results of the studies and the SCTEE opinion as the basis to take (cid:145)possible
additional(cid:146) specific actions to reduce risks to health or the environment including, if appropriate, proposals
under Directive 76/769/EEC to restrict the marketing and use of lead.

(1) OJ B 196, 16.8.1967.
(2) OJ L 262, 27.9.1976.
(3) OJ L 269, 21.10.2000.
(4) OJ L 378, 31.12.1982.
(5) OJ L 330, 5.12.1998.
(6) COM(2000) 347 final.
(7) OJ C 177 E, 27.6.2000.