WRITTEN QUESTION P-2681/01 by Gerard Collins (UEN) to the Commission. Premature Zinc Risk Assessment timetable.
Date: 2001-09-26
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.

18.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 93 E/59

The premature closing-off of the draft Risk Assessment Report (RAR) means that potentially important
research conducted by the industry may not be taken into account. This could mean that Parliament will
be considering legislation which is flawed.

Will the Commission explain why discussions on the zinc dossiers could be concluded without taking into
account all relevant and new research and thereby ensuring that a risk assessment in this field is based on
the best available scientific knowledge?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-2082/01, E-2127/01, E-2348/01 and P-2681/01
given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(29 October 2001)

The six zinc compounds undergoing risk assessment following Council Regulation (EEC) No. 793/93 of
23 March 1993 on the evaluation and control of the risks of existing substances, were prioritised on
27 September 1995. The first draft risk assessment reports (RAR) were submitted by the Dutch authorities,
acting as Member State Rapporteur, to the Community Technical Meeting in December 1999. Over the
last decade, extensive discussions between the Dutch Institute ‘Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en
Milieu’
(RIVM) acting as Rapporteur and zinc industry have taken place, and the output has been
considered in the reports.

In comparison with other priority substances assessed under the Council Regulation (EEC) No. 793/93 on
the evaluation and control of the risks of existing substances, the procedure for completing the risk
assessment for the six zinc compounds is not in anyway accelerated and there has never been the intention
to close the discussions without taking into account ongoing research that could affect the conclusions.

At the Technical Meeting in September 2001, after an extensive discussion on the new draft reports,
Member States experts agreed that especially on the issue of the emissions from zinc to soil and the
bioavailability of this released zinc in the soil, specific information needs could be identified that might
affect some of the conclusions regarding the risks of this substance. Therefore,
in line with the usual
procedure under this Regulation, the meeting agreed on a conclusion (i) there is a need for further
information and/or testing, and agreed on a deadline of 18 months from September 2001 to obtain this
information. After this deadline the Member State Rapporteur will incorporate the new results in the final
RAR. These results and the final part of the report will then be discussed and concluded upon by the
Technical Meeting.

(2002/C 93 E/076)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2092/01

by Paul Rübig (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 July 2001)

Subject: Conformity with the?Architecture Directive’ D recognition of specialised courses of study

Liechtenstein communicated details of the School of Architecture in Vaduz in accordance with Article 7 of
the ‘Architecture Directive’, 85/384/EEC (1). This notification was recognised by the ESA (EFTA Surveillance
Authority) for the purposes of the EEA by virtue of its publication in the Official Journal (2). On the EU
side, reservations were expressed by 5 Member States and the matter was referred to the EEA Conciliation
Committee, with a view to reaching a settlement within 6 months.

A decision has not yet been reached.

Since the majority of students at the above-mentioned university come from EU Member States, the
current legal uncertainty regarding the conformity of the training offered with the ‘Architecture Directive’
and the attendant problems concerning access to careers in the sector are making the situation untenable.