WRITTEN QUESTION E-2348/01 by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Risk Assessment Report.
Date: 2001-08-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: chemical product, dangerous substance, drafting of EU law, health risk, impact study, prevention of pollution, zinc

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.