WRITTEN QUESTION E-3314/02 by Bill Newton Dunn (ELDR) to the Commission. Testing the carcinogenic properties of man-made vitreous fibres.
Date: 2002-11-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: carcinogenic substance, composite materials, testing

C 155 E/134

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.7.2003

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(7 January 2003)

From 3 to 5 September 2002, a Commission delegation visited the island of Zakynthos in order to check
whether all necessary measures had been taken to protect the loggerhead sea turtle Caretta caretta and
comply with the judgment of the Court of Justice of 30 January 2002 (1). The Court had found that Greece
had failed to comply with the requirements of Article 12(1)(b) and (d) of Directive 92/43/EEC (2).

The Commission delegation noted that progress had been made and the situation was better than in
previous years. However, it concluded that Greece had not done everything necessary to comply with the
Court’s judgment, which required it to establish and implement an effective system of strict protection for
the loggerhead sea turtle. The Greek authorities were informed of the results of the visit.

The Commission will not hesitate to take appropriate measures to ensure that Greece complies with the
judgment delivered by the Court on 30 January 2002 in the Caretta caretta case.

(1)

Judgment of the Court of 30 January 2002, Commission v Hellenic Republic, Case C-103/00, European Court
Reports 2002, p. 1147.

(2) Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (cid:1)

OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(2003/C 155 E/148)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3314/02

by Bill Newton Dunn (ELDR) to the Commission

(22 November 2002)

Subject: Testing the carcinogenic properties of man-made vitreous fibres

In the Commission Directive 97/69/EC (1) of 5 December 1997, the Commission committed itself to
‘evaluate scientific developments’ of man-made vitreous fibres, within five years. This deadline has now run
out. Are the results of the tests to ascertain the carcinogenic or other properties of man-made vitreous
fibres known, and if they are, what are the results of these tests?

(1) OJ L 343, 13.12.1997, p. 19.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(27 January 2003)

Commission Directive 97/69/EC of 5 December 1997 (1) provides that the Commission shall evaluate
scientific developments within five years after adoption, in order to delete or amend Note Q. This Note
names four different toxicology tests which can be used to exempt mineral wool from the classification as
carcinogenic.

Since the adoption of the Directive in 1997, the complete scientific-technical evidence on which Note Q is
based was re-analysed. This analysis, published in two scientific articles (2) (3), showed that the results
the
generated by the four different
biopersistence of mineral wool
it is
important to note that the International Association for Research on Cancer (IARC) revised a review on
fibres (4), which again noted the importance of biopersistence and its relationship to carcinogenic effects.

It also highlighted the link of
In this context,

fibres with their classification as carcinogenic.

tests were highly consistent.

3.7.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 155 E/135

In conclusion, Note Q is still a valid means to exempt mineral wool from the classification as carcinogenic.
It does not appear necessary to delete or amend Note Q although any new scientific information, including
that arising from any Community funded research, will be referred to the Commission for consideration.

(2)

(1) Commission Directive 97/69/EC of 5 December 1997 adapting to technical progress for the 23rd time Council
Directive 67/548/EEC on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the
classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances (Text with EEA relevance) (cid:1) OJ L 343, 13.12.1997.
‘Biopersistence of Synthetic Mineral Fibers as a Predictor of Chronic Inhalation Toxicity in Rats’. David M. Bernstein,
Juan M. Riego Sintes, Bjarne Kjaer Ersboell and Joachim Kunert. Inhalation Toxicology (cid:1) 13, 823-849 (2001).
‘Biopersistence of Synthetic Mineral Fibers as a Predictor of Chronic Intraperitoneal Injection Tumour Response in
Rats’ David M. Bernstein, Juan M. Riego Sintes, Bjarne Kjaer Ersboell and Joachim Kunert. Inhalation Toxicology, 13,
851-875 (2001).
IARC Monograph 81 (2001).

(4)

(3)

(2003/C 155 E/149)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3318/02

by Paul Rübig (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 November 2002)

Subject: Basel II and the sixth research framework programme

The introduction of the new rules under the Basel II agreement, currently still under negotiation, will have
far-reaching and in some cases unforeseeable consequences for borrowing by European SMEs. The impact
of the more stringent capital requirements on credit institutions and hence on all SMEs can be properly
assessed and mitigated through additional in-depth studies. In particular, this would involve research into
the practical consequences of
the new capital requirements and improved and/or new methods of
financing from capital for SMEs.

Is it possible for the Commission to have research carried out on the preparations needed on the part of
European business (banks and firms,
in the context of the EU’s sixth research
framework programme, with a view to cushioning the impact of the Basel II agreement?

in particular SMEs)

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(23 December 2002)

The Sixth Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP6) does not presently
foresee calls for proposal on the impact of Basel II on the European economy (banks, businesses and, in
particular, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)) either under its seventh priority ‘Citizens and
governance in a knowledge-based society’ or under its SME programme.

However, the Barcelona European Council (15/16 March 2002) requested in its conclusions that ‘the
Commission […] present a report on the consequences of the Basel deliberations for all sectors of the
European economy with particular attention to SMEs.’ Following up on the Barcelona conclusions, the
Commission is in the process of selecting a tenderer for this study. The tenderer will start working in the
first part of 2003 and the study will be used as a basis for a Commission report to the Council and the
Parliament end 2003. This timetable will leave time for the Commission and all other institutions to have a
view on the consequences of Basel
II on the European economy before the Commission adopts its
proposal of capital adequacy Directive (1).