WRITTEN QUESTION E-3975/00 by Armando Cossutta (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Defective tyres.
Date: 2000-12-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: dangerous substance, defective product, intra-EU trade, market approval, pneumatic tyre

C 174 E/204

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

19.6.2001

soon to become EU members. Problems relating to asbestos cross national boundaries and subject
disciplines. They include: research into the early diagnosis and treatment of asbestos-related diseases,
terminal care for patients, support
for the families of asbestos victims, compensation from former
employers and/or government institutions for occupational or environmental asbestos exposure, problems
arising from the continued use of products containing asbestos in our buildings, ships, railways and
the disposal of asbestos waste, raising of worker and public awareness of the risks,
infrastructure,
supervision of EU companies which attempt to export discredited asbestos technology to developing
countries and, crucially, enforcement of EU asbestos legislation. Does the Commission think that it would
be beneficial to create a secretariat which would coordinate initiatives on all asbestos issues?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(9 February 2001)

The Commission does not consider it justified to create a secretariat that would co-ordinate initiatives on
asbestos-related issues.

Liaison between different Commission services responsible for market restrictions, waste, health diagnosis
and treatment, workplace protection, trade and public health has worked sufficiently well to establish a
network of preventive measures enshrined in Community legislation. These measures reduce the threat to
health posed by asbestos. In parallel, the Scientific Committee for Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environ-
ment will continue to monitor the development of the scientific knowledge on public health aspects of
asbestos.

(2001/C 174 E/217)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3975/00

by Armando Cossutta (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(20 December 2000)

Subject: Defective tyres

In the United States of America, the National Highway Traffic Society Administration, which is the road
safety authority, has ordered the recall of 24 models of tyres which have shown high percentage risks of
tread separation. These tyres, produced by Firestone Bridgestone USA, a subsidiary of the Japanese firm
Bridgestone Corp., have mainly been fitted to Ford cars, but also to Nissan and General Motors vehicles.

Accidents caused by defective tyres have caused 88 deaths and 250 injuries in America, and 46 deaths and
an unknown number of injuries in Venezuela. Apparently, tyres of this type have also been sold in 16
other countries.

The firms involved apparently concealed the defects in their tyres, which it is alleged they had been aware
of for some time.

According to further very recent information, the NHTSA has also started an investigation into Goodyear,
whose (cid:145)E(cid:146) type tyres may have been responsible for 31 accidents with 15 deaths. According to Goodyear,
half of the 27 million tyres under investigation are still in use.

1.

Does the Commission know whether these tyres are also sold in the European market?

If so, what urgent steps has the Commission taken to ensure that these dangerous tyres are

2.
immediately withdrawn from circulation?

19.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 174 E/205

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(14 February 2001)

The Commission is well aware of the risks posed by certain types of tyres and has taken action in order to
examine the situation and measures taken in the Community in relation to the tyres in question.

The Commission contacted Firestone/Bridgestone Europe already in August 2000, in order to know what
actions were planned for the European market. The company provided information showing that measures
similar to those in the United States were being voluntarily launched in the Community.

On 12 September 2000 France notified the Commission through the Rapid Alert System (RAPEX),
established by the Council Directive 92/59/EEC of 29 June 1992, on General Product Safety (GPSD) (1),
of an order suspending the placing on the market of and requiring other measures in relation to three
types of tyres produced by Bridgestone/Firestone.

Almost all Member States have reported to the Commission that recall actions have been launched on their
respective territories. In addition, Commission officials met twice with representatives of Firestone/Bridge-
stone to be informed of the details of the recall campaign in Europe and its results.

The Emergencies Committee of the GPSD has reviewed progress on this subject at its meeting of
15 December 2000. There was general agreement that the measures taken by Firestone/Bridgestone were
satisfactory and that no further measures were needed at Community level.

The Commission is following-up the progress with the voluntary recall launched by Bridgestone/Firestone
as well as any other possible problems found in relation to some Goodyear tyres.

(1) OJ L 228, 11.8.1992.

(2001/C 174 E/218)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3976/00

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(20 December 2000)

Subject: Monopoly in sports and recognition of diplomas in sports training

Through decrees Nos 115/92 and 319/94, Italy has incorporated Directives 89/48/EEC (1) and 92/51/
EEC (2), which established a general system for the recognition of diplomas in order to facilitate access to
regulated professions.

Article 22(13) of Decree No 286/1998 provides that (cid:145)Italian workers and workers from outside the EU
may apply for the recognition of professional training qualifications obtained abroad, in the absence of
specific agreements with their countries of origin, and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, having
consulted the Central Employment Committee, shall give a ruling on recognition of the qualifications(cid:146).
Article 27(1) confirms that (cid:145)foreigners intending to practise any type of professional sporting activity in
Italian sports undertakings, under the terms of Law No 91 of 23 March 1981, are permitted entry.(cid:146)
Liberalising the sporting professions market for those from outside the EU seems a positive step, but also a
contradictory one, since CONI (Italian National Olympic Committee) still currently prevents, for instance,
the head of the Italian federation of sports trainers (not a member of CONI) from practising his profession
in Italy and thereby in the other European Union countries.

In view of the above:

1. Does the Commission not think that CONI, which has a monopoly on the sporting professions,

contravenes the principle of the plurality necessary in professional training?