WRITTEN QUESTION E-0272/03 by Rosa Díez González (PSE) to the Commission. Commissioning of a specified risk material (SRM) incinerator.
Date: 2003-02-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Catalonia, EU Member State, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, environmental standard, industrial building, public health, waste incineration

9.10.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 242 E/115

The Commission has, however, acknowledged that the health-related benefit of the Union eco-label needs
to be highlighted and actively communicated to the European consumer. It is therefore envisaged to
reinforce the health-related criteria in the various Decisions establishing the eco-label criteria for the
different product groups and to improve communication on the combined health and environment quality
advantages of eco-labelled products to the European consumers and other stakeholders. In addition, the
Commission intends to reinforce the emphasis on health aspects when the eco-label Regulation comes up
for revision in 2005.

Against this background, the Commission does not intend to conduct surveys into consumers’ and
producers’ wishes concerning the incorporation of health criteria and/or other factors into the scheme.
However, discussions with all relevant stakeholders in the Union Eco-labelling Board on the forthcoming
revision have already been launched in order to obtain a comprehensive overview of their experience with
the instrument and their views on future developments. These discussions will be stepped up over the next
two years and should provide an important input for the revision of the scheme.

(2003/C 242 E/117)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0272/03

by Rosa Díez González (PSE) to the Commission

(6 February 2003)

Subject: Commissioning of a specified risk material (SRM) incinerator

Over 1 000 inhabitants of the villages of Térmens and Vallfogona de Balaguer in the province of Lleida
have signed a petition against plans for an incinerator that is to be constructed by the Grefacsa company.

The application to construct an incinerator to burn around 40 000 tonnes per annum of animal meal
originating from animals and organs classified as SRMs (specified risk materials) was published in the
Official Journal of the Generalitat de Catalunya on 5 November 2002. I understand this SRM classification
to mean that these animals were liable to have suffered diseases such as the transmissible spongiform
encephalopathies commonly known as ‘mad cow’ diseases.

Various scientific reports indicate that
remain stable for long periods in the air, water and soil.

incinerators produce carcinogenic synthetic substances which

Is the Commission aware of the construction of this incinerator?

How many such incinerators are there in Europe?

What current legislation governs this area and has or will a Community directive be issued in this regard?

What are the maximum permissible emissions?

To what extent might the incinerator affect the environment and especially the health of people living
under 10 kilometres away?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(17 March 2003)

The incineration of waste is regulated by several legal instruments, aimed at preventing or limiting as far as
practicable its negative effects on the environment and the resulting risks to animal and human health.
As regards the incineration of animal by-products to which Directive 2000/76/EC of the Parliament and of
the Council of 4 December 2000 on the incineration of waste (1) does not apply, Article 12 of Regulation
(EC) No 1774/2002 of the Parliament and of the Council of 3 October 2002 laying down health rules
concerning animal by-products not intended for human consumption (2) will apply as from 1 May 2003.

C 242 E/116

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

9.10.2003

The granting of permits for waste incinerators falls under the responsibility of national authorities, and
does not need to be notified to the Commission. The Commission is therefore not aware of the request to
construct the incinerator mentioned by the Honourable Member.

The Commission does not know exactly the total number of waste incinerators operated within the
Community. Technical publications suggest that the total number must be in the range of some hundreds.

As far as applicable, Directive 2000/76/EC lays down limit values for conventional pollutants, e.g. for
oxides of nitrogen (NOX) emissions into the air, as well as values for persistent and/or toxic substances, e.g.
for heavy metals and dioxins, into air and water.

The limit values are set in order to prevent as far as practicable negative effects on the environment and
the resulting risks to human health. The actual risk at local level has to be assessed for each individual case
within the permitting procedure.

(1) OJ L 332, 28.12.2000.
(2) OJ L 273, 10.10.2002.

(2003/C 242 E/118)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0285/03

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(7 February 2003)

Subject: Rising sea levels in South Pacific

What evidence exists of rising sea levels in the South Pacific?

Is the Commission offering any assistance to the island of Tuvalu and surrounding islets to deal with the
effects of climate change?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(6 March 2003)

The best and most reliable scientific assessment of climate change is the Third Assessment Report (TAR)
prepared by the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2001. This report contains the
combined scientific knowledge of the world. Its authority and reliability has been recognised by almost all
the countries of the world, including the United States.

The Third Assessment Report indicates that an average sea level rise of 0,1 to 0,2 million has been
observed in the 20th century and that there are signals that global warming has significantly contributed
to this rise.

However, current models are still not able to forecast sea level rise giving just a single figure rather than a
range of possible results. So according to the IPCC TAR for the periods from 1990-2025 and from 1990-
2050, the projected rises are expected to be from 0,03 to 0,14 million and from 0,05 to 0,32 million
respectively.

The consequences of these possible scenarios are indeed a cause for concern, as also recognised by the
Council conclusions of 17 October 2002. Large-scale impacts of climate change on oceans are expected to
include a rise in the global sea level with the possible consequence of increased levels of flooding,
accelerated erosion, loss of wetlands and mangroves, and seawater intrusion into freshwater sources. Small
island states, including Tuvalu, are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of climate change, which
could also result in loss of land and property, dislocation of people, increased risk from storm surges and
would require high resource costs to respond to and to adapt to these changes.

The greater part of the Community development assistance is provided through the framework of Country
Strategy Papers (CSP). The CSPs outline a strategy for development assistance in each country with priority
areas for assistance identified by the beneficiary country.