WRITTEN QUESTION E-2571/01 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission. European Research Advisory Board.
Date: 2001-09-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: administrative transparency, advisory committee (EU), research policy

C 81 E/190

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.4.2002

(2002/C 81 E/223)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2546/01

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(19 September 2001)

Subject: The dangers posed by plastic toys inside chocolate eggs

Is the Commission aware that in spite of rules governing the safety of toys throughout the Member States,
the sale of some brands of chocolate eggs concealing small plastic toys in kit form continues unchecked?
Many children have required medical attention as a result of choking on these small parts and some have
even died.

Does the Commission have any plans to rectify this hazardous situation?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(24 October 2001)

The Commissioner would refer the Honourable Member to the Commission replies to Written Questions
E-2479/97 by Mr Whitehead (1), E-3085/97 by Mr Apolinario (2), E-3813/97 by Mrs Graenitz (3),
E-2630/00 by Mr Moreira da Silva (4), E-2631/00 by Mrs Damiªo (4), E-2632/00 by Mr Lage (4) to the
reply to oral question H-654-01 by Mrs Malliori during question time at Parliament(cid:146)s September 2001
part-session (5) and to the result of Petition No 280/99 on the subject of toys contained in foodstuff.

The products in question (non-food products accompanying food products in a separate packaging) are
not specifically covered by Council Directive 88/378/EEC of 3 May 1988, on the safety of toys (6),
although Council Directive 92/59/EEC of 29 June 1992 on general product safety is applicable in relation
to possible risks. The Emergencies Committee set up under Article 8 of Directive 92/59/EEC on general
product safety concluded among others on 16 May 2000 that (cid:145)In the light of the information available to
date, the risk associated with non-food products accompanying food products in a separate packaging
seem to be no different to those presented by small toys in general or by toys containing small parts in
general. The current available data provide no evidence of a specific risk factor linked to the (cid:147)association(cid:148),
when the packaging is distinct. The risk seems to depend on the characteristics of the non-food product
itself, notably those associated with small size or the size of its parts, or its packaging(cid:146).

The Commission has requested Member States to report any new or additional data concerning any
accidents, whether fatal or not, caused by toys associated with food. None of the 11 Members States that
has replied has provided any new data in relation to toys in food, in addition to that submitted already to
the Emergencies Committee. The Commission will continue to keep this question under review.

(1) OJ C 82, 17.3.1998.
(2) OJ C 102, 3.4.1998.
(3) OJ C 196, 22.6.1998.
(4) OJ C 136 E, 8.5.2001.
(5) Written reply, 4.9.2001.
(6) OJ L 187, 16.7.1988.

(2002/C 81 E/224)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2571/01

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: European Research Advisory Board

(21 September 2001)

In answer to my question E-1704/01 (1) Mr Busquin stated that (cid:145)(cid:133) to help with advice on the overall
balance of research topics, the Commission [had] recently established the European Research Advisory
Board which could be called on to help with such advice(cid:146).

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On what date did or will the board begin work?

Could the Commission give details of the board(cid:146)s membership, budget and funding, duties, responsibilities,
and operation?

(1) OJ C 364 E, 20.12.2001, p. 183.

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(29 October 2001)

The European Advisory Board was established by the Commission Decision 2001/531/EC, Euratom of
27 June 2001 (1). This Decision describes the function and competence of the Board as well as the
modalities foreseen for the achievement of its mandate. A budget of up to € 624 550 per annum is
presently foreseen for its activities. The Commission will also provide for financial and administrative
support to the secretariat of the Board.

The members of the board were nominated by Commission Decision on 1 August 2001 (2). The list of
members is sent directly to the Honourable Member and to the Secretariat general of the Parliament.

The Advisory Board met for the first time on 26 September 2001.

(1) OJ L 192, 14.7.2001.
(2) OJ C 268, 22.9.2001.

(2002/C 81 E/225)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2576/01

by Dominique Vlasto (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Contribution of tourism to employment and growth

(24 September 2001)

On 21 June 1999 the Internal Market Council called on the Commission and the Member States to
cooperate closely in order to (cid:145)maximise (cid:133) the potential contribution of
tourism to growth and
employment taking particular account of the contribution of SMEs(cid:146), which make up the majority of this
economic sector.

Four objectives were set, as follows:

(cid:129) facilitating the exchange and dissemination of information, notably through new technologies;

(cid:129) improving training in order to upgrade skills in the tourism industry;

(cid:129) improving the quality of tourist products;

(cid:129) promoting environmental protection and sustainable development in tourism.

Could the Commission say what progress it has made in achieving these objectives since the publication of
its progress report on the subject in September 2000?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(24 October 2001)

The working parties referred to in the Commission(cid:146)s progress report (1) submitted their final reports in July
2001.