WRITTEN QUESTION E-2029/01 by Giovanni Pittella (PSE), Fiorella Ghilardotti (PSE) and Guido Sacconi (PSE) to the Commission. Introduction of an ethical label.
Date: 2001-07-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: business policy, child labour, ethics, mode of production, moonlighting, social labelling

14.2.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 40 E/167

international children(cid:146)s emergency fund (Unicef) in Sierra Leone regarding the protection and reintegration
of children associated with the fighting forces and other children separated from their families as a result
of the conflict. Another initiative is taken in the context of Community humanitarian assistance. Children
are a cross-cutting priority for Community humanitarian assistance in 2001, and the Commission
Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) has spent more than 40 million on projects targeting the needs of war-
affected children since the beginning of 2000. At an operational level, special attention is being paid to
health, emergency education and psychosocial assistance, because these three sectors are pivotal to all
child-related assistance.

At a policy level, the Commission has also sought to increase its contributions to the development of
better tools for assisting and protecting children. Within this context, it is currently funding two research
projects on child soldiers. One project is the (cid:145)Multidisciplinary study on the problem of child soldiers in
Africa(cid:146) by the Red Cross Belgium, which seeks to elaborate durable, stable, institutional and operational
intervention strategies for the Red Cross Movement. The other project is the Save the Children United
Kingdom project on (cid:145)Child Soldiers and Children Associated with the Fighting Forces: Guidelines for Best
Practice(cid:146), which aims at producing a manual for people working with child soldiers, drawing on the wider
experience of the aid community.

(1) OJ L 216, 20.8.1994.

(2002/C 40 E/179)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2029/01

by Giovanni Pittella (PSE), Fiorella Ghilardotti (PSE)
and Guido Sacconi (PSE) to the Commission

(13 July 2001)

Subject: Introduction of an ethical label

The introduction of an ethical label for companies would provide a way of attesting to the standards which
they maintain in terms of both product quality and behaviour, and of encouraging them to pursue not just
economic but also social goals.

It would help to put an end to practices such as the use of child or undeclared labour within companies,
and to enable valuable forms of cooperation to be established with public bodies.

Has the Commission considered whether it would be appropriate to introduce such a system, together
with ad hoc rules to ensure that the labels will be awarded and used in a proper fashion?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(6 September 2001)

The Commission is aware of a growing number of so-called ethical or social
individual manufacturers, industrial sectors, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or governments.

labels originating from

Indeed these labels can help to deliver positive social change among enterprises, retailers and consumers,
thereby contribute to promote observance of the core International
labour
standards (freedom of association, abolition of forced labour, non-discrimination and elimination of child
labour).

labour organisation (ILO)

These labelling initiatives are however limited in scope and potential
impact, as they are generally
restricted to particular niches within the retail market, usually limited to imported products and only
accessible to affluent consumers.

C 40 E/168

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.2.2002

Furthermore, because they imply a guarantee that the item was produced free of exploitation and abuse,
which cannot be verified by testing the product itself, ethical or social labels would require permanent
verification of the workplace which is complex and problematical to implement.

In its Green Paper on Corporate Social Responsibility (1), the Commission has raised these issues and
opened a consultation on the best means to develop, evaluate and ensure the effectiveness and reliability of
corporate social responsibility instruments such as ethical or social labels. A Communication (2) adopted
the same day focuses on promoting core labour standards and improving social governance in the context
of globalisation.

(1) COM(2001) 366 final.
(2) COM(2001) 416 final.

(2002/C 40 E/180)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2034/01

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(13 July 2001)

Subject: Inappropriate use of botulin

It is apparently becoming increasingly common to treat wrinkles by injecting botulin into the skin. This
substance is known to be highly toxic and can cause irreversible injury to facial muscles. It is banned in
some Member States and other countries for precisely these reasons.

1.

Is the Commission aware of the above practice?

2. What steps, if any, will it take to protect the health of citizens as consumers against such methods,
which damage health as well as impairing physical appearance?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(24 September 2001)

The Commission is aware of the fact that botulin is a potentially dangerous substance.

This substance is defined as a medicinal product. No medicinal product can be put on the market without
having obtained a marketing authorisation. To obtain this, the applicant is required to carry out tests
which demonstrate the quality, safety and effectiveness of the medicinal product. Once the competent
authorities have conducted the evaluation, the marketing authorisation can be granted if the risk/benefit
ratio is favourable. Marketing authorisations are thus granted by the Member States for serious therapeutic
purposes such as the treatment of blepharospasms, facial hemispasms or spasmodic torticollis. These
medicinal products must be medically prescribed and should be used in specialist units.

Given that the substance mentioned by the Honourable Member (cid:129) botulin (cid:129) is a medicinal product, it is
subject to Community regulations concerning the marketing, use, testing and advertising of such products,
particularly Directive 65/65/EC (1).

The Commission is aware of the fact that this substance is used for non-therapeutic purposes, such as the
treatment of wrinkles.

The Commission does not have detailed information on the specific position adopted by each of the
Member States regarding this use of botulin.