WRITTEN QUESTION E-3273/02 by Bernd Lange (PSE)and Christa Randzio-Plath (PSE) to the Commission. Obligation to submit a report on on-board measurement systems pursuant to Directive 98/69/EC.
Date: 2002-11-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commission, air quality, combustion gases, motor vehicle, pollution control, report, technical standard, vehicle parts

12.6.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 137 E/183

Hydrocarbons are present at low levels in many foods but their origin is often uncertain. In some
3.
cases, the hydrocarbons are of a natural origin whilst in other cases they arise from contamination of the
food by mineral hydrocarbons present in the environment,
including pastures and agricultural fields.
The contamination is the result of emission from a number of sources, such as processing and burning of
coal, crude oil, petroleum and natural gas, production of aluminium, iron and steel, combustion of waste,
fires including forest fires, motor vehicle exhaust and disposal of used motor lubricating oil. It is currently
not precisely known to which extent mineral hydrocarbons present in the environment leads to the
presence thereof in the different feed materials and to which extent they are transferred from feed to food
of animal origin.

environment

4.
The emissions of these undesirable mineral hydrocarbons have to be avoided as much as possible in
order to reduce the presence thereof in the environment. The Commission acknowledges the need to
gather more information on the relation between the presence of these undesirable mineral hydrocarbons
in the
for public health.
food chain and the possible
the
The Communication of
Community highlights the overall Environment-Health objective to achieve a quality of the environment
where the levels of man-made contaminants do not give rise to significant impact or risk to human health.
Within this action programme, research will be stimulated to gather better knowledge on the impact of the
contamination of the environment on public health.

the Commission on the Sixth Environmental Action Programme of

consequences

and the

5.
As part of the Sixth Environmental Action Programme, a thematic strategy on air pollution under the
title ‘Clean Air for Europe’ will be developed by 2004. This strategy will contain, inter alia, the results of a
detailed analysis on what further measures may be required in order to achieve air quality and deposition
objectives across the Union.

(1) OJ L 194, 25.7.1975.

(2003/C 137 E/207)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3273/02

by Bernd Lange (PSE)
and Christa Randzio-Plath (PSE) to the Commission

(19 November 2002)

Subject: Obligation to submit a report on on-board measurement systems pursuant to Directive 98/69/EC

New OBM developments now monitor emissions more accurately than the OBD procedure.

This was already mentioned in Directive 98/69/EC (1), which called for a report to be submitted by 30 June
2002, inter alia on requirements for the operation of an on-board measurement system (OBM).

Is the Commission aware that, pursuant to Article 4(1), second subparagraph of Directive 98/69/EC,

1.
it owes Parliament and the Council a report on this subject?

2. Why has the Commission not yet submitted this report?

3. What steps has the Commission taken to fulfil its obligation?

(1) OJ L 350, 28.12.1998, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(10 January 2003)

Article 4 paragraph 1 of Parliament and Council Directive 98/69/EC (1), amending Council Directive 70/
220/EEC, requires the Commission to submit a report, by 30 June 2002, to the Parliament and the Council

C 137 E/184

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

12.6.2003

on the development of on-board diagnostic (OBD) systems, giving its opinion on the need for an extension
of the OBD procedure and on requirements for the operation of an on-board monitoring (OBM) system.
On the basis of the report the Commission will submit, a proposal for measures to enter into force no
later than 1 January 2005 to include the technical specifications and corresponding annexes in order to
provide for the type-approval of OBM systems ensuring at least equivalent levels of monitoring to the
OBD system and which shall be compatible with these systems.

The Commission is fully aware of the content of Directive 98/69/EC and the many tasks that are laid down
in this area. The subject of OBD is one of continuous evolution and this has been reflected in the
amendments to the basic prescriptions for OBD that are laid down in Directive 98/69/EC. On the basis of
a Commission proposal, the Parliament and the Council decided on Directive 2001/1/EC (2). In addition,
(1999/102/EC (3) and 2002/80/EC (4)) have been agreed through the
two Commission Directives
comitology procedure to clarify the application of OBD to gas fuelled vehicles and introduce several
technical amendments to enhance the practical application of OBD.

The Commission is presently preparing another amendment to the OBD requirements to introduce the
OBD threshold limits applicable to vehicles equipped with petrol engines from 2005 and to further
improve the application of OBD with respect to annual roadworthiness testing. This proposal should be
presented to the legislators in the first half of 2003.

On the specific issue of OBM systems, the Commission has not submitted the report called for in the
second sub-paragraph of Article 4(1) of Directive 98/69/EC as it is still reviewing the state of development
of OBM, which has not been as strong as was foreseen when Directive 98/69/EC was agreed. It is presently
of the opinion that there is no device or system that could be regarded as providing an OBM capability
that would complement an OBD system in a cost effective manner. It has had discussions with major
suppliers of OBD systems and exhaust gas sensors who have clearly stated that the development of new
sensor technology, some of which are already being applied on new vehicles, already constitutes an
effective OBM capability, within the constant evolution of OBD systems.

As part of the review of the state of development, the Commission has also had several discussions with
certain parties seeking to develop OBM systems and seen demonstrations of their OBM systems. While the
developments are notable, the Commission is of the opinion that such developments still have a long way
to go and certainly do not provide a basis on which to make any justifiable and cost-effective proposal to
the Parliament and Council.

However, in order to partly fulfil its obligation at this time the Commission will soon present the results of
its discussions with relevant stakeholders in an interim report to the Parliament and Council.

(1) OJ L 292, 28.12.1998.
(2) OJ L 35, 6.2.2001.
(3) OJ L 334, 28.12.1999.
(4) OJ L 291, 28.10.2002.

(2003/C 137 E/208)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3276/02

by Daniel Hannan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 November 2002)

Subject: Isle of Wight

Could the Commission please say how much aid the Isle of Wight is eligible for under the NUTS 2
programme and, also, why the Commission and the British Government have decided that it should be
ineligible for structural funds under Objective II?