WRITTEN QUESTION E-2127/01 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission. Assessment of the risks of zinc.
Date: 2001-07-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: chemical product, dangerous substance, drafting of EU law, health risk, impact study, prevention of pollution, zinc

18.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 93 E/57

The Scientific Committee on Veterinary Measures relating to Public Health stated in its opinion of
23 September 1999 that, according to the human epidemiology data available on foodborne listeriosis, a
Listeria monocytogenes concentration of less than 100 per gram, at the consumption stage, may be
regarded as a low risk for all population groups.

The Commission has called together a working group of experts from the Member States in order to
initiate an overall discussion on harmonising the relevant microbiological criteria for each food category.
This group’s work will be included in draft Community legislation, as proposed in Article 6 of the Proposal
for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the hygiene of foodstuffs adopted on
14 July 2000 by the Commission (3) and submitted to Parliament and the Council.

In addition, with regard to small-scale producers, the Commission suggested, in Article 4 of the above
proposal, a system of derogations granted by the Member States which would take into account specific
geographical constraints, exclusively local distribution and/or traditional methods of production, without
compromising public health objectives.

(1) OJ L 268, 14.9.1992.
(2) OJ L 175, 19.7.1993.
(3) OJ C 365 E, 19.12.2000.

(2002/C 93 E/072)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2082/01

by Simon Murphy (PSE), Werner Langen (PPE-DE),
Emilia Müller (PPE-DE), Dirk Sterckx (ELDR), James Fitzsimons (UEN)
and Massimo Carraro (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Draft Risk Assessment Report 9 Zinc and Zinc Chemicals

(13 July 2001)

Is the Commission aware of the widespread concerns felt by the European General Galvanisers Association
at the timescale for the completion of the Risk Assessment Report (RAR) by the European Chemicals
Bureau into Zinc and Zinc Chemicals?

Does the Commission share our view that the RAR must take into account the findings of a substantial
Europe-wide zinc research programme, due for completion by the end of 2002?

Further, is the Commission concerned that failure to take that research programme into account would
result in itself, Parliament and Council receiving incomplete information about zinc and might lead to
flawed and damaging legislation?

(2002/C 93 E/073)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2127/01

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(17 July 2001)

Subject: Assessment of the risks of zinc

Everybody know that the assessment of the risks to human health and the environment presented by zinc
is compulsory under Regulation 793/93 (1). Regulation 1488/94 (2)
lays down the principles. Since it
belongs to the second list of priorities, zinc is currently being examined. The Dutch institute conducting
the study will be responsible for drawing up the report. The zinc-coating and related industries fear that
the Commission intends draw up the final report in too much of a hurry. The report is considered to be
incomplete, since the PNEC values (predicted no-effect concentrations) are thought to be inaccurate.

C 93 E/58

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2002

Can the Commission say whether:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

it intends to complete the work in the near future, via the Technical Meeting of the ECB in Ispra;

it is aware that several parts of the text drawn up by the Dutch institute conflict with the Technical
Guidance Document, which the Commission put forward in order to provide the methodology to be
followed;

it does not consider it essential, in assessing the environmental impact, to take account of complex
factors, about which there is a lack of scientific information, which makes it impossible to complete
the work within the tight deadlines, which were set arbitrarily at the last session of the Technical
Meeting;

it does not consider that it has the responsibility to offer a risk assessment with a clear scientific
content, not only to ensure that no relevant data are ignored, but, above all, to make sure that it does
not make the fatal mistake of basing its assessment on incomplete information;

it does not consider that in order to fill these gaps, the risk assessment could be completed within a
reasonable deadline (later than the latest deadline of September 2001) in order to be able to submit to
the rapporteur a study which scientists and independent university lecturers have been carrying out,

6. whilst adhering to the deadlines, the results reached by the Dutch institute might coincide with those

obtained in the latest study?

(1) OJ L 84, 5.4.1993, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 161, 29.6.1994, p. 3.

(2002/C 93 E/074)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2348/01

by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 August 2001)

Subject: Risk Assessment Report

Taking into account that the results of a significant research programme on zinc and zinc chemicals is not
due to be finished until the end of 2002, and that this research is due to render many of the defaults and
assumptions used in the draft RAR unsustainable and lead to an altering of the conclusions of the RAR on
both health and environment issues, taking into account that completion dates for the draft RAR are
changing regularly and are now expected prematurely between 17 and 21 September 2001, despite there
being several unresolved issues, taking into account that the premature closing off of the RAR brings with
it the strong possibility of incorrect outcomes, risks a serious waste of EU resources and will cause the risk
assessment process to be questioned, I would like firstly to ask the Commission why the Zinc RAR is being
pushed forward prematurely for completion and secondly, what are the reasons for prematurely closing off
discussion on the zinc dossiers before the research results are delivered and the key outstanding issues are
resolved?

(2002/C 93 E/075)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2681/01

by Gerard Collins (UEN) to the Commission

(26 September 2001)

Subject: Premature Zinc Risk Assessment timetable

The Commission has been due to hold final in-depth discussions in relation to the risk assessment for zinc
and other zinc substances at Technical Meeting 3 from 17 to 21 September, despite the fact that many
significant unresolved issues remain.