WRITTEN QUESTION E-3887/00 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission. Discrimination against workers in the nuclear sector.
Date: 2000-12-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: equal treatment, health legislation, ionising radiation, job access, medical examination, nuclear industry, radiobiology

3.7.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 187 E/77

treatment and prevention of (SE), and co-ordination of research activities between Member States, are
included in the Quality of Life programme. Three new projects have been selected for funding to pursue
the continuous surveillance of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) cases, harmonise diagnostic methods and
investigate manufacturing processes to reduce risks of contamination. Forthcoming calls for proposals in
the Quality of Life programme this year and in 2001 will offer a further opportunity to strengthen this
effort and focus on critical areas where research is needed.

In addition, as far as Community actions in the area of public health are concerned, surveillance of vCJD is
foreseen under the Decision No 2119/98/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 24 September 1998
setting up a network for the epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases in the
Community (1).

Furthermore, collaborative networks of persons directly or indirectly affected by vCJD would have the
possibility of submitting project proposals in reply to call for proposals published in the framework of the
Community action programme on rare diseases (1999-2003) or of the Community action programme for
the prevention of AIDS and other communicable diseases (1996-2000; prolongation 2001-2002 proposed
by the Commission).

(1) OJ L 268, 3.10.1998.

(2001/C 187 E/083)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3887/00

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(13 December 2000)

Subject: Discrimination against workers in the nuclear sector

Is the Commission aware of Dr William Cramp(cid:146)s work that led to the development of the (cid:145)Nuclear
Precipitation Test(cid:146), whereby individuals who are particularly sensitive to the effects of radiation may be
identified?

Does the Commission take the view that such tests should not be used to pre-select individuals to work in
nuclear facilities and that, rather than discriminating on grounds of individual human biology, environ-
ments should be made safe for all?

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

(12 February 2001)

The work of Dr W Cramp is know to the Commission. However, in the current state of the art the results
and findings of studies on differing sensitivity to radiation cannot yet be put to any practical use.

The Commission therefore shares the view of the Honourable Member that these tests should not be used
to pre-select staff, especially as the focus of this particular scientific research into the sensitivity of human
organisms to radioactive radiation is the treatment of cancer tumours.

Annual exposure limits are set in order to protect workers against the hazards of ionising radiation. These
limits are always based on the latest scientific and technical developments in the field of the biological
effects of ionising radiation. Workers in the nuclear industry also undergo annual medical examinations
designed to establish their fitness for such work.

These two measures form the basis for EU basic safety standards for radiation protection, the effectiveness
of which is highlighted by the high level of protection afforded to workers. The Commission therefore
takes the view that no further measures are needed along these lines.