WRITTEN QUESTION E-0120/01 by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Wood preserving agents.
Date: 2001-02-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EC Directive, market approval, pesticide, wood industry

18.9.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 261 E/41

inside and outside the Community. There was nevertheless sufficient evidence that the final proposals
would have seriously compromised environmental integrity and the Community therefore decided not to
accept them.

The Commission strongly regrets that it was not possible to reach agreement in The Hague. However, the
outcome of 6th Conference of the Parties (COP6) was not entirely negative and some good progress was
made: for example, a set of proposals responding to developing countries(cid:146) needs and concerns was
elaborated. Also on other issues such as policies and measures to reduce emissions, capacity building,
technology transfer, emissions trading, joint implementation and compliance, progress was made at the
technical level. All efforts should focus on finalising these decisions at the resumed session of COP6.

The Community is committed to the Kyoto target and, as stated at 5th Conference of the Parties (COP5),
will undertake all effects for early ratification and entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol by 2002. In order
to achieve the Community target of -8 %, an effective Community implementation strategy is necessary.
With the European Climate Change Programme (ECCP), the Commission has made an important effort in
this direction. The first phase of the European Climate Change Programme (ECCP) will finish in May and
will result in clear policy recommendations for all
important economic sectors such as energy and
transport. In the second half of this year, the Commission intends to come forward with its implementa-
tion strategy accompanied by a proposal for Community ratification of the Kyoto Protocol.

Negotiations between Parties in the context of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change have been suspended but will be taken up again later this year. Mr Pronk, President of COP6, is in
consultation with the different regional groups regarding the best time to officially resume the negotiations
and how to best carry forward the process.

The Community urges all Parties, in particular the new United States administration, to engage in the
negotiations in a constructive manner with a view to reaching an overall agreement as soon as possible.

The success of further negotiations will require a constructive spirit. The challenge is to find compromises
that strike the right balance between Parties(cid:146) concerns. Everybody wants cost-effective measures, but this
must not compromise the environmental integrity of the Kyoto Protocol and must ensure the necessary
support for developing countries in terms of sustainable development.

(2001/C 261 E/042)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0120/01

by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(1 February 2001)

Subject: Wood preserving agents

In accordance with the biocides directive (98/8/EC) (1) pesticides for non-agricultural use have to be
removed from the market, in line with the substitution principle, if a less harmful alternative is available.
Wood preserving agents based on copper/chromium and copper/chromium/arsenic compounds (cid:129) impreg-
nating acids (cid:129) have an effect on humans and the environment varying between harmful and highly toxic.

C 261 E/42

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.9.2001

By treating wood from temperate zones with different processes such as platonising and acetylation it is
possible to preserve them without using toxic substances. Boreal wood treated in this way is just as strong
as tropical hardwood. These processes are becoming increasingly common on the European market.

Is the Commission prepared to give serious consideration to this substitution method and (cid:129) should it
prove satisfactory (cid:129) to apply it and to ban impregnating salts from the European market?

(1) OJ L 123, 24.4.1998, p. 1.

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

(30 March 2001)

Directive 98/8/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 1998 concerning the placing of
biocidal products on the markets (1) envisages an authorisation procedure for all biocidal products
including wood preservatives. Under Commission Regulation 1896/2000 of 7 September 2000 on the
first phase of the programme referred to in Article 16(2) of Directive 98/8/EC of the Parliament and of the
Council on biocidal products (2) active substances of wood preservatives will be in the first group of
substances to be evaluated in the framework of the Directive. Complete dossiers on supported active
substances are to be submitted to the competent authorities by 28 March 2004 at the latest.

On this basis the risks arising from each active substance will be evaluated and only substances posing no
unacceptable risks will be included in Annex I to the Directive and thereby allowed to be placed on the
market and used for biocidal purposes.

Furthermore, an active substance not deemed unacceptable but which still gives rise to concern will be a
candidate for comparative assessment as laid down in Article 10(5) of the Directive. Under this procedure
such a substance might be denied entry into Annex I if another active substance presenting significantly
less risk to health or the environment is included in Annex I.

The Directive also obliges Member States to prescribe that biocidal products shall be properly used,
including the rational application of a combination of physical, biological, chemical or other measures as
appropriate, whereby the use of biocidal products is limited to the minimum necessary.

The Commission will take its responsibilities under the Directive seriously and all its proposals including
those based on wood preservatives, will be based fully on the requirements of the Directive.

(1) OJ L 123, 24.4.1998.
(2) OJ L 228, 8.9.2000.

(2001/C 261 E/043)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0128/01

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(31 January 2001)

Subject: Timeliness of economic statistics

Further to the Commission(cid:146)s answer to Written Question E-3426/00 (1) on 22 December 2000, will

1.
the Commission please provide information concerning earnings data, as requested in that question?

2. Will the Commission also state what undertakings, if any, it has received from Greece, Ireland and
Luxembourg that
their GDP, employment and
improve the regularity and frequency of
productivity figures?

they will

(1) OJ C 151 E, 22.5.2001, p. 166.