WRITTEN QUESTION E-3073/02 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Use of epoxy derivatives in the wine industry.
Date: 2002-10-25
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Italy, application of EU law, eco-label, packaging product, paints and varnishes, plastics, storage of food, wine

3.7.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 155 E/81

In recital 11 the Commission states that the use and/or presence of BADGE and BFDGE in plastic materials
and articles, surface coatings such as varnishes,
lacquers and paints, as well as adhesives, should be
regulated at Community level to avoid risks to human health and barriers to the free movement of goods.

Despite these concerns, the response in a particular Member State has been the opposite. The Italian
Health Service openly prohibits wine producers from making wine in concrete unless the inner surface of
the container has been treated with an epoxy coating. Apart from the fact that concrete, together with
wood and terracotta, is the oldest, and, some would say (a good many leading French wine producers
among them), the best, way of storing wine, this means that strict biological wine production is no longer
possible in Italy. The Ecocert biological label does not permit the use of epoxy coating.

Where does the Commission stand on the fact that the Italian public-health inspectorate is forcing
winegrowers to apply a product (epoxy coating) that is potentially toxic in contact with foodstuffs to the
internal surfaces of wine containers?

Are there any European rules and regulations applicable to wine storage in general, and to the various
alternative methods in particular, such as storage in concrete, with or without epoxy derivatives?

Does the disagreement between the Italian authorities and the founder of the Ecocert organisation not
point to a need for consistent European arrangements on the use of epoxy derivatives?

(1) OJ L 51, 22.2.2002, p. 27.

(2003/C 155 E/093)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3073/02

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(25 October 2002)

Subject: Use of epoxy derivatives in the wine industry

Further to the recent question E-3050/02 on the same subject:

Ecocert Italia is an organisation that carries out checks on organic labels for wine and other products. The
organisation refuses to recognise as organic wine that has matured in containers treated with epoxy
derivatives. However, the Italian health authorities (USL) do not allow organic wine growers to produce
wine in concrete containers unless the inside of the containers is first treated with epoxy.

Is the Commission convinced that use of epoxy is safe for health? If not, what measures does it intend to
take and what alternatives does it propose?

Does the Commission authorise the production of wine in untreated concrete? If not, what are its grounds
for imposing a ban?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-3050/02 and E-3073/02
given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(6 December 2002)

Storage containers for wine have to comply with the general requirements of Council Directive 89/109/
EEC of 21 December 1988 on materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs (1).

C 155 E/82

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.7.2003

Article 2 of which stipulates that under normal or foreseeable conditions of use such materials and articles
must not transfer their constituents to foodstuffs in quantities that could:

(cid:1) endanger human health,

(cid:1) bring about an unacceptable change in the composition of the foodstuffs or a deterioration in their

organoleptic characteristics.

The use of certain epoxy derivatives, notably of BADGE, BFDGE and NOGE, in materials and articles
intended to come into contact with foodstuffs is regulated by Commission Directive 2002/16/EC of
20 February 2002 on the use of certain epoxy derivatives in materials and articles intended to come into
contact with foodstuffs. Consumer health is protected provided that the producers of the epoxy resins
comply with the provisions of Directive 2002/16/EC.

Therefore, the Commission considers that any material or article which complies with these Directives can
be used for the storage of any type of food and this applies to concrete containers.

Article 37 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2392/89 laying down general rules for the description and
presentation of wines and grape musts (2) sets rules applying to the storage of wines and musts that do not
specify any particular nature or composition for the inner surfaces of storage containers. Nor is there any
more precise Community rule elsewhere.

The disagreement between the Italian authorities and the Ecocert organisation does not point to a need for
further European arrangements on the use of epoxy derivatives, as their use in materials and articles
intended to come into contact with food is regulated at Community level in Directive 2002/16/EC.

(1) OJ L 40, 11.2.1989.
(2) OJ L 232, 9.8.1989.

(2003/C 155 E/094)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3058/02

by Jo Leinen (PSE) to the Council

(25 October 2002)

Subject: Bank guarantees for non-governmental organisations supporting Russian media as part of the

TACIS programme

TACIS service contracts provide for bank guarantees for Commission funding in terms of the scale of the
contract. This means that non-governmental organisations, working without profit, are in practice
excluded from these invitations to tender. Is this in line with the Commission and Parliament’s efforts to
promote civil society and make use of the expertise of NGOs in relevant projects?

The case in question concerns projects for promoting democracy and human rights in Russia, carried out
in accordance with the general Tacis rules. NGOs are generally speaking not able to obtain loans or bank
guarantees in the EUR 700 000 to EUR 2 million bracket. This would automatically exclude NGOs from
such projects. Can the Council remedy this situation?

Reply

(20 February 2003)

TACIS assistance will be totally effective only if progress is made towards the establishment of free and
open democratic societies in which human rights are respected. The development of civil society is one of
the cooperation priorities financed by the TACIS Programme.