WRITTEN QUESTION E-2723/02 by Peter Skinner (PSE)and Helle Thorning-Schmidt (PSE) to the Commission. Implementation of Council Directive 1999/38/EC on protecting workers against the carcinogenic effects of wood dusts.
Date: 2002-09-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: application of EU law, carcinogenic substance, occupational health, occupational safety, small and medium-sized enterprises, wood product

6.3.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 52 E/205

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(28 October 2002)

The American figures for economic growth are not necessarily flattered by the use of hedonic methods.
Statisticians use a range of methods to take account of quality change, with different comparative
advantages. Hedonic methods do not lead to uniformly higher or lower results. It is not clear that
alternative methods are a priori better than the hedonic approach.

Eurostat cannot compare the American results with and without the application of hedonic methods (1),
since such an analysis could only be conducted using American micro-data. Given that a range of
alternative methods might be used in the place of hedonics, the alternative methods could be expected to
give a range of results. It would, therefore, not be appropriate to conclude that there is an ‘optical divide’
between the United States and Europe. The position is not so clear-cut.

European national statistical institutes are currently very active in the field of hedonics in terms of research
but
their use is rather limited in practice. Only a few Member States are using hedonics in the
measurement of some economic activities. Eurostat has set up a centre to consolidate research in this field
and to evaluate the scope for future use. Eurostat,
in collaboration with the Member States’ national
statistical institutes,
is also currently developing additional standards for the quality adjustment of the
Harmonised Indices of Consumer Prices, whether by using hedonic methods or other methods.

Eurostat is of the view that hedonic research currently offers a promising route for improving quality
adjustment in price indices and hence measuring economic growth in volume terms. That said, Eurostat
agrees that there are some controversial issues concerning the application of hedonic methods (2) which are
currently discussed in international fora.

(1) The US Bureau of Labor Statistics has published some comparisons for individual product types, see for example:

http://stats.bls.gov/.

(2) See for example: US National Academy of Sciences ‘At What Price? Conceptualizing and measuring cost-of-living
and price indexes’, Charles Schultze and Christopher Mackie, editors, National Academy Press, Washington, DC,
2001.

(2003/C 52 E/228)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2723/02

by Peter Skinner (PSE)
and Helle Thorning-Schmidt (PSE) to the Commission

(30 September 2002)

Subject: Implementation of Council Directive 1999/38/EC on protecting workers against the carcinogenic

effects of wood dusts

Epidemiological studies which have been carried out over an extended period of time have repeatedly
pointed to increased cancer prevalence rates among employees engaged in wood-processing. Reports
published by the Lyon Cancer Research Agency (IARC)
in 1995 and in 1998 particularly produced
evidence that, from what was known of the subject at the time, it could be established at the very least that
hardwood dust had carcinogenic effects. From the knowledge we possess today, other types of wood are
also suspected of being cancer-causing agents. Lately, this position was confirmed by the Scientific
Committee for Occupational Exposure Limits (SCOEL) (cf. SCOEL/SUM/102B (cid:1) June 2002). Following a
lengthy debate on this subject, the Council passed the directive 1999/38/EC (1) in which all hardwoods
were classified as carcinogenic work materials. A workplace limit of 5mg/m3 was decided upon.

C 52 E/206

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.3.2003

On the one hand, it is well known that the directive comes up against very diverse practices in different
member countries. This does not only have to do with a political decision on limits, but also concerns
differing overall cultures that affect the handling of wood dust. Limit values in Member States vary from
1mg/m3 to 10mg/m3.

On the other hand, it is well known that technical solutions for effective dust reduction exist for most
work processes. New technology levels under 1mg for almost all wood-handling activities can be
attainable.

Against this background, a satisfactory conversion of the directive will depend strongly on effective
dissemination of information on the subject and on a positive exchange of knowledge regarding good
practice.

Is the Commission aware of the activities undertaken by Member States regarding the implementation of
directive 1999/38/EC?

Does the Commission share the viewpoint that a Community programme is needed to reduce the huge
gap between the different Member States as far as prevention activities are concerned?

What kind of activities has the Commission considered to support a proper application of the directive,
especially in SMEs?

(1) OJ L 138, 1.6.1999, p. 66.

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(30 October 2002)

Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to
comply with Council Directive 1999/38/EC of 29 April 1999 amending for the second time Directive 90/
394/EEC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens at work and
extending it to mutagens, not later than 29 April 2003. They shall forthwith inform the Commission
thereof.

The Commission has pointed out in its Communication ‘Adapting to change in work and society: a new
Community strategy on health and safety at work 2002-2006’ (1) that benchmarking and the identification
of best practices should be used to work towards converging progress in terms of the Member States’
policies. The European employment strategy provides an effective framework for this kind of approach,
with input
the European
employment strategy states that Member States will endeavour to ensure a better application at workplace
level of existing health and safety legislation by stepping up and strengthening enforcement, by providing
guidance to help enterprises, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, to comply with existing
legislation, by improving training on occupational health and safety, and by promoting measures for the
reduction of occupational accidents and diseases in traditional high risk sectors.

from the European Social Fund. As a matter of

fact, guideline 14(c) of

In addition, the Commission has announced in this Communication its intention to consider to propose an
amendment to the employment guidelines, calling on the Member States to adopt quantified objectives for
reducing accidents at work and occupational
its
intention to analyse the role of the European Social Fund in terms of promoting a healthy and safe
working environment, in conjunction with the mid-term assessment of the current programming exercise.
In this line, the European Fund for Regional Development and the European Agricultural Guidance and
Guarantee Fund could be the object of a similar exercise.

illnesses. The Commission has announced as well

(1) COM(2002) 118 final.