WRITTEN QUESTION E-0911/02 by Hiltrud Breyer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Marketing of noni products.
Date: 2002-04-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: food inspection, food safety, foodstuff, foodstuffs legislation, market approval, marketing, new product

29.8.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 205 E/235

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(14 May 2002)

In accordance with Article 4(1) of Directive 98/69/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 13 October
1998 relating to measures to be taken against air pollution by emissions from motor vehicles and
amending Council Directive 70/220/EEC, the Commission has been preparing a standard format for
emission-related repair information. To facilitate international harmonisation the Commission has been
following closely the legislative work carried out by the Americain Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
and California Air Resources Board (CARB). The rules being proposed by EPA and CARB will require a
manufacturer to offer emission-related diagnostic and repair information over the world-wide web. Since
European manufacturers selling vehicles in North America will have to comply with the EPA and CARB
rules it is well motivated to have a similar approach within the Community. Therefore, the Commission is
preparing a solution that would require manufacturers to make available all emission-related diagnostic
and repair information to the general market through a web-site.

EPA and CARB consider that the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) standard J1930 should be used in
the construction of web-sites to provide for standard terms and definitions covering all emission-related
information. Similar terms and definitions are laid down by the International Standardisation Organisation
(ISO) in standard 15031-2 which will be necessary for a Community solution, while also taking into
account Community languages. However, the Commission also sees it necessary to standardise, wherever
possible, the manner in which an end-user can access information from different manufacturer web-sites
that may present information according to completely different layouts. Access to a manufacturer’s web-
site should be simple and cost-effective to enable end-users, for example independent garages and mobile
services, to locate the right information quickly and cheaply.

for web-site operation and necessary equipment

Therefore, the Commission has decided to actively pursue the so-called ‘OASIS’ project that will define the
necessary parameters
for end-users. While the
Commission has yet to decide on how the results of the OASIS project could be implemented in practice,
the end result may be the development of an ISO standard that could be referenced in the Directive for the
provision of emissions-related OBD diagnostic and repair information. The basic plan behind the ‘OASIS’
project has been that the necessary work should be carried out by an expert in the field of electronic
information standardisation and that progress be regularly reviewed in a project group financed by the
various stakeholders. Unfortunately, it has taken a long time to reach a provisional agreement on that
group but it seems now to be at hand.

The Commission believes that such an approach will serve the best interests of the vehicle manufacturers,
spare parts manufacturers and repairers. Equally important, such an approach will also serve the best
interests of consumers by providing all parties involved in the servicing and repair of motor vehicles with
efficient and cost-effective access to diagnostic and repair information concerning emission control
systems. The Commission will present its report on the development project by the fourth quarter of
2002.

(2002/C 205 E/258)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0911/02

by Hiltrud Breyer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(8 April 2002)

Subject: Marketing of noni products

The marketing of noni products is at present being treated differently in the different Member States. In
Germany in particular, products produced on a 100 %-natural basis from the fruit (morinda citrifolia) and
bio-certified under EU law are being declared ineligible for marketing on the grounds that they contravene

C 205 E/236

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.8.2002

Novel Foods Regulation (EC) No 258/97 (1) and have not been approved. The German health authorities in
particular assert that there is an increased risk of toxic and allergic reactions. Other EU Member States
permit noni products to be marketed without restriction regardless of quality level. It remains uncontested
in that connection that bio-certified noni products have been produced by traditional reproduction or
growing methods. At issue is their suitability as food products, although it is known that in the USA in
particular large quantities of noni products have been marketed for many years with no evidence of toxic
or allergic reactions hitherto.

How does the Commission explain the discrepancy between approval as a bio-certified food product

1.
and the withholding of approval under the Novel Foods Regulation for one and the same product?

2. What is the Commission’s own information hitherto about the apparent risk of consuming noni
products?

(1) OJ L 43, 14.2.1997, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(22 May 2002)

All Member States and the Commission agree that noni products (Morinda citrifolia) are novel food within
the meaning of Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 1997
concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients, as they have been placed on the market only after the
entrance into force of the Regulation. Therefore, the marketing of noni products prior to a possible
authorisation under the Regulation is illegal in all Member States. In order to ensure that noni products are
treated in the same manner throughout
the Community, Member States have agreed to take the
appropriate steps to end any ongoing marketing of noni products in their territory (see also the
Commission’s answer to written question P-0325/02 by Mrs Müller (1)).

The Honourable Member might also note that currently only one application limited to noni juice has
been submitted and is currently being examined under the Regulation.

The purpose of ‘bio-certification’ is to distinguish between production methods. However, for novel
1.
products in the sense of Regulation (EC) No 258/97 it may not replace the necessary assessment and does
not provide any prejudice to the outcome of the authorisation procedure under the Regulation.

The Commission itself did not gather any evidence that the consumption of noni products may
2.
endanger human health. This, however, has no bearing on the fact that novel foods can only be placed on
the market after having received authorisation under Regulation (EC) No 258/97.

(1) OJ C 160 E, 4.7.2002, p. 209.

(2002/C 205 E/259)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0912/02

by Emmanouil Bakopoulos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(8 April 2002)

Subject: Single Health Card

the recent summit meeting in Barcelona the leaders of

At
introduction of a special health card which would be valid in the 15 Member States.

the 15 Members States agreed on the

Will the Commission say what measures it intends to take to ensure the success of this initiative and when
this card will be introduced?