WRITTEN QUESTION E-1144/01 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council. Application of ISO standards in EU Member States.
Date: 2001-04-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU control, European Commission, ISO, application of EU law, international standard

C 364 E/50

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.12.2001

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 2001)

The Commission takes the view that the main objective of this Authority will be to restore and preserve
public confidence in food safety. This new organisation will therefore have to be able to provide scientific
advice, support and communication services on risks in a very effective way. For this reason,
the
Commission is paying particular attention to the operational requirements for ensuring that the Authority
functions as well as possible. Its location must be such that it can be easily reached by European scientists
its scientific committees and panels (some 3 000 visits per year) and can
attending meetings of
communicate easily with the risk management bodies (the Commission, Parliament and Council). In the
event of a serious food crisis, the Authority will have to be able to provide the Commission with rapid,
ongoing scientific support in the context of the crisis centre mechanisms provided for in the new
regulation.

The Authority(cid:146)s independence will be safeguarded by various provisions in the proposal for a regulation
establishing it. Locating it in a city which already hosts a Community institution cannot be seen as
a potential threat to its autonomy.

(2001/C 364 E/055)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1144/01

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(11 April 2001)

Subject: Application of ISO standards in EU Member States

The International Standards Organisation was set up in 1947 to set international standards for technical,
physical and geographical quantities and units, including their symbols and spellings. ISO standards are the
result of close international cooperation and are recognised world-wide.

During the 1950s, the SI-system was created for scientific and technical units (metres, kilograms, seconds,
amperes). In 1974 all UN member countries and many entities (mostly islands) were given an official
symbol or code. ISO-3166 establishes three codes for each country or entity, a three-figure code, a code
consisting of three capital letters and one with two capital letters. If the structure of the State changes, and
provided this is recognised by the UN, the symbols may be changed.

Although ISO standards are internationally recognised, they are often wrongly used. Classic examples can
be found in the symbols used on cars and lorries, in international postal services, on traffic signs and in the
indications for currencies.

Does the Council support the full and correct use of all ISO standards by EU Member States? If not, why
does the Council not consider it necessary for the EU Member States to use all ISO standards correctly? If
so, what steps will the Council take to ensure that all ISO standards are used fully and correctly by EU
Member States?

Reply

(27 September 2001)

In its Resolution on the Role of Standardisation in Europe adopted 28 October 1999 the Council
recognised the increasing importance of
International Standards. The Council also emphasised the
the Vienna Agreement between ISO and CEN (the European Committee for
exemplary nature of
Standardisation).

Concerning the correct use of ISO Standards referred to in EU-legislation, it is the competence of the
Commission to supervise that these are correctly implemented in the Member States(cid:146) legislation.