WRITTEN QUESTION P-0147/01 by Vincenzo Lavarra (PSE) to the Commission. Asbestos risk linked with Fibronit plant in Bari.
Date: 2001-01-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU law, Italy, asbestos, competence of the Member States, environmental protection, green area, health risk, industrial building, town planning, waste management

3.7.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 187 E/195

Could the Commission examine the feasibility, and desirability, of European legislation laying down
1.
a requirement throughout Europe for the inflammability of clothing to be indicated on the label, in order
that consumers are aware of the risks?

Following on from question 1, could the Commission look into whether it is feasible, and desirable,

2.
for all consumer products which may be inflammable to carry similar warning labels for consumers?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(7 March 2001)

Clothing is not subject to specific Community legislation as far as its inflammability is concerned. It falls
under the scope of Council Directive 92/59/EEC of 29 June 1992 on general product safety (1), which
imposes a general safety obligation. This Directive refers to European standards, conformity with which
confers presumption of conformity with the general safety obligation in the new version of the Directive
which is currently being revised.

In December 2000, the Commission issued a mandate to the European Committee for Standardisation,
with a view to creating European standards concerning the inflammability of night-dresses in response to
statistics demonstrating the particular risk associated with this item of clothing. The Commission now
intends to study the need for a new mandate covering the inflammability of other types of clothing. To do
this,
initiate consultation with Member States and other interested parties, such as consumer
associations and industry federations, to gather their opinions on this subject and to obtain data and
statistics on accidents that have occurred over the last few years.

it will

The Commission considers that warning labels could supplement the available technical solutions, if these
solutions do not completely eliminate the risk. The standards body could provide for warnings in the
absence of any other satisfactory solution.

(1) OJ L 228, 11.8.1992.

(2001/C 187 E/211)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0147/01

by Vincenzo Lavarra (PSE) to the Commission

(23 January 2001)

Subject: Asbestos risk linked with Fibronit plant in Bari

The EU attaches particular importance to policies aimed at improving the quality of urban life and
generally protecting the environment and public health and promoting health and safety at work.

The Commune of Bari, meanwhile, intends to give permission to build on the site currently occupied by
the former Fibronit plant, which is no longer in use, partly because of the very high levels of asbestos
present in the remaining structures and toxic substances present in the subsoil.

Obviously, clearing the former Fibronit industrial plant, which is situated right in the middle of town next
to the heavily populated districts of San Pasquale and Japigia, and the subsequent construction work would
lead to dangerous amounts of asbestos dust being released into the environment, which would be
deleterious to the health of residents and construction workers alike.

C 187 E/196

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.7.2001

These plans have been opposed not only by a number of political parties and associations of citizens but
also by academics and experts on public health and the environment, who believe that it would be less
dangerous, and therefore preferable, to transform the area into a public park after simply taking action at
the site to ensure its permanent safety rather than physically removing any remaining traces of asbestos
present.

In view of the foregoing:

1. What action has the EU taken, or does it intend to take, to monitor and decontaminate industrial sites

containing high levels of asbestos?

2. What form of action does the EU consider it preferable to take in cases involving the removal of

asbestos from industrial sites in urban areas such as the one in question?

3.

Is it not preferable, in the light of past experience, to adopt an approach that avoids removing (cid:129) and
disturbing (cid:129) huge amounts of asbestos?

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

(6 March 2001)

Community legislation addresses the risks related to asbestos under various aspects.

Measures for the protection of workers exposed in the course of their work to dust arising from asbestos
or materials containing asbestos were already introduced by Council Directive 83/477/EEC of 19 September
1983 on the protection of workers from the risk related to exposure to asbestos at work (1). Council
Directive 87/217/EEC of 19 March 1987 on the prevention and reduction of environmental pollution by
asbestos (2) introduced general measures related to the use of asbestos and its disposal. Asbestos waste shall
be dealt with in accordance with Council Directive 78/319/EEC of 20 March 1978 on toxic and dangerous
waste (3), which has been repealed and replaced by Council Directive 91/689/EEC of 12 December 1991
on hazardous waste (4). General provisions on the safe management of hazardous waste are laid down in
this legislation. Moreover, a general obligation to take the necessary measures to ensure that waste is
recovered or disposed of without endangering human health and without using processes or methods
which could harm the environment is put upon Member States by Council Directive 75/442/EEC of 15 July
1975 on waste, as amended by Directive 91/156/EEC (5).

Council Directive 96/61/EC of 24 September 1996, concerning integrated pollution prevention and
control stipulates (6) in its article 3 that (cid:145)the necessary measures are taken upon definitive cessation of
activities to avoid any pollution risk and return the site of operation to a satisfactory state(cid:146). It applies to
certain categories of
including
installations for the production of asbestos and the manufacture of asbestos-based products. Installations
authorised before October 1999 have to operate in line with the provisions of the Directive from October
2007 onwards. An installation already closed down, as is the case for the Fibronit plant in question, is not
covered by this legal instrument.

industrial activities characterised by a significant pollution potential,

There is, however, no Community legislation specifically dedicated to the decontamination of industrial
sites containing high levels of asbestos, or to the decision to remove or not asbestos from buildings. It is
up to Member States to decide, within the limits set by the above-mentioned Community legislation, how
to deal with asbestos in existing building structures.

(1) OJ L 263, 24.9.1983.
(2) OJ L 85, 28.3.1987.
(3) OJ L 84, 31.3.1978.
(4) OJ L 377, 31.12.1991.
(5) OJ L 78, 26.3.1991.
(6) OJ L 257, 10.10.1996.