WRITTEN QUESTION P-0643/02 by Minerva Malliori (PSE) to the Commission. Certificate of suitability for building materials.
Date: 2002-02-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: building, building materials, consumer information, consumer protection, health risk, public health, quality label

18.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 172 E/221

Generally,
openness of the decision-making process of the European institutions.

the Commission shares SEAP’s concerns about maintaining better involvement and more

In this connection,
particularly those in the White Paper on European governance.

the Commission would remind the Honourable Member about

its proposals,

Moreover, the Commission intends to continue with its efforts on transparency by fully complying with
the new rules introduced on this matter under Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of Parliament and of the
Council of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission
documents (1), and by developing best practice in order to guarantee citizens the most extensive access
possible to its documents. Accordingly, the Commission has committed itself to improving transparency in
the exercise of its implementing powers by allowing public access, subject to the exemptions laid down in
Article 4 of the above-mentioned Regulation, to draft decisions on the implementation of acts adopted
under the procedure set out in Article 251 of the EC Treaty.

(1) OJ L 145, 31.5.2001.

(2002/C 172 E/237)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0640/02

by Philip Bushill-Matthews (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 March 2002)

Subject: ECJ and ban on British beef

Given that it is now two months since the European Court of Justice ruled that the French ban on British
beef imports was illegal, and given that, to date, France has not lifted the ban despite this ruling, what
specific action does the Commission propose to take to see that the law is enforced, and precisely when
does it propose to take it?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(8 April 2002)

The Commission shares the concerns of the Honourable Member.

The Commission has already requested France to indicate the action it intends to take to comply with the
judgement of the Court of Justice of 13 December 2001 in the case concerned (Commission v French
Republic C-1/00).

No satisfactory reply having been received to this request, the Commission has decided to invoke the
procedure under Article 228 of the EC Treaty.

(2002/C 172 E/238)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0643/02

by Minerva Malliori (PSE) to the Commission

(28 February 2002)

Subject: Certificate of suitability for building materials

Research has shown that the accumulation of radon emitted from building materials in domestic dwellings
causes various forms of lung cancer to which children are particularly susceptible. This situation could be
remedied by using appropriate building materials. However, building materials circulate on the European
market without certificates of suitability, which creates problems not only in the abovementioned
circumstances but also in relation to other substances used in building materials which could potentially
create serious public health problems.

C 172 E/222

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.7.2002

Is the Commission aware of this problem and does it consider that it would be appropriate to introduce a
European certificate of suitability for building materials so that consumers know to what extent the
products used are safe?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(27 March 2002)

The Commission is aware that indoor radon is a public health hazard and has issued in 1990 a
Recommendation (1) to protect against it. It is recommended that where a reference level of 400 becquerel
per m3 (Bq/m3) is exceeded, simple but effective remedial action should be considered. For constructions
after 1990 a design level of 200 Bq/m3 is recommended.

Radon may exhale from building materials, but in general ingress from the soil beneath the dwelling is far
more important. On the other hand, other primordial natural radionuclides in building materials are cause
of external irradiation by emitted gamma rays. The group of experts established under Article 31 of the
Euratom Treaty has provided guidance on this matter (2). An activity index is proposed and levels below
which materials would be exempted from any restrictions.

Above such levels building materials may need to be certified and information be provided so as to allow
compliance with building codes. Radioactivity is within the scope of
the Construction Products
Directive (3). Within this framework specific requirements may be laid down, including the certification of
materials for levels of radioactivity.

(1) Commission Recommendation 90/143/Euratom of 21 February 1990 on the protection of the public against

indoor exposure to radon, OJ L 80, 27.3.1990.

(2) Radiation Protection 112, Radiological protection principles concerning the natural radioactivity of building

materials, 2000, ISBN 92-828-8376-0.

(3) Council Directive 89/106/EEC of 21 December 1988 on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative

provisions of the Member States relating to construction products, OJ L 40, 11.2.1989.

(2002/C 172 E/239)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0646/02

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(11 March 2002)

Subject: Effect of endometriosis on employment

Is the Commission able to produce statistics regarding the effect endometriosis has on employment?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(18 April 2002)

The Commission has no statistics on this subject.