WRITTEN QUESTION E-1238/03 by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission. Benzodiazepine drugs dependence.
Date: 2003-04-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: drug addiction, drug surveillance, health policy, health risk, medicinal product, public health

C 242 E/222

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

9.10.2003

It is clear, unfortunately, that this timetable has not been adhered to. As this proposal comes under the
codecision procedure, any further delay would give rise to concern.

This being so, can the Commission state whether a new timetable has been adopted and what provisions
have been made to give the industries concerned sufficient time to comply with the new legislation?

(1) OJ L 44, 16.2.2000, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(8 May 2003)

The Commission would like to refer the Honourable Members to its reply to Written Questions P-0628/03
by Mrs Grossetête (1) and P-1031/03 by Mrs Darras (2).

The Commission proposal to amend Directive 1999/96/EC (3) is in the final stages of preparation and
adoption. This delay is a consequence of the need to reconstruct the way in which proposals in the field of
automotive construction are made to improve the efficiency of the decision making process, to take
account of the need to update and simplify the Community acquis (4) and to take account of recent inter-
institutional agreements.

As such, the existing annexes laid down in Council Directive 88/77/EEC of 3 December 1987 (5) and the
amendments necessary to introduce the new technical requirements required by Directive 1999/96/EC are
being recast according to the Inter-Institutional Agreement of 28 November 2001 between the Parliament,
Council and Commission on a more structured use of the recasting technique for legal acts (6).

It is envisaged that the Commission will adopt the proposal for a Directive within about three months.

(1)
JO C 222 E, 18.9.2003, p. 222.
(2) OJ C 222 E, 18.9.2003, p. 246.
(3) Directive 1999/96/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 1999 on the approximation of the
laws of the Member States relating to measures to be taken against the emission of gaseous and particulate
pollutants from compression ignition engines for use in vehicles, and the emission of gaseous pollutants from
positive ignition engines fuelled with natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas for use in vehicles and amending
Council Directive 88/77/EEC.

(4) COM(2003) 71 final.
(5) OJ L 36, 9.2.1988.
(6)

Inter-institutional Agreement of 28 November 2001 on a more structured use of the recasting technique for legal
acts (cid:1) OJ C 77, 28.3.2002.

(2003/C 242 E/261)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1238/03

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(2 April 2003)

Subject: Benzodiazepine drugs dependence

The Commission will have noted the recent
for a Council
recommendation on the risks associated with addictive prescription drugs such as benzodiazepines, and
for, patients suffering long term withdrawal symptoms or
best practice treatment of, and support
permanent impairment. (Resolution on the proposal for a Council Recommendation on the Prevention and
Reduction of risks associated with drug dependence (cid:1) Malliori report A5-0021/2003).

request by the European Parliament

Medical misprescription of benzodiazepines has led to many cases of addiction and severe mental
problems amongst patients, but the drugs are also stolen and sold extensively for use in association with
illegal drugs.

the Commission give consideration to the preparation of guidelines and recommendations as

Will
requested?

9.10.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 242 E/223

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(2 May 2003)

The Commission has noted Amendment 55 on point 2 of the Commissions Proposal for a Council
Recommendation on the prevention and reduction of risks associated with drug dependence (1) which
recommends a Council Recommendation on the risks associated with addictive prescription drugs such as
benzodiazepines, and best practice treatment of, and support for, patients suffering long term withdrawal
symptoms or permanent impairment. The Commission’s view that it could agree with this amendment has
been communicated to the Council.

The Commission is aware that addiction to legal pharmacological products is a large and complex
problem. The Work Plan of the Community Action in the field of public health for year 2003 (2) states that
preparatory work involving an inventory of existing studies in this field will be undertaken.

(1) COM(2002) 201 final.
(2) OJ C 62, 15.3.2003.

(2003/C 242 E/262)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1239/03

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(2 April 2003)

Subject: Health warnings on cigarette packs

By what date does the Commission expect to be in a position to provide Member States with rules and
internal market guidance for the use of colour photographs or other illustrations on cigarette packs to
explain the health consequences of smoking?

Will the Commission explain what preparatory work has now been completed, what work must still be
undertaken, and why this is necessary given that a photograph of a diseased lung (for example) looks the
same in every Member State?

Does the Commission recognise that the lengthy delay in producing these guidelines will appear to
confirm in the minds of many citizens the very worst impressions of bureaucracy gone mad?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(2 May 2003)

The Commission expects to adopt a Decision establishing rules for the use of colour photographs or other
illustrations to depict the health consequences of smoking, as required by Article 5.3 of Directive 2001/37/
EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2001 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and
administrative provisions of the Member States concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale of
tobacco products (1), by May 2003.

While the above Directive calls upon the Commission to adopt such rules not later than 31 December
2002, it should be noted that the Commission made the following declaration when the Directive was
adopted: ‘The Commission draws the attention of the European Parliament and the Council to the difficulty
it envisages in respecting the deadline imposed in Article 5(3) of this text in which to obtain an opinion
from the Committee established in Article 10 and subsequently to adopt rules on the use of colour
photographs.’

Preparatory work for this Decision involved the consultation of experts and the evaluation of research
carried out in recent years, as well as analysing the experience of countries where the use of colour photos
is already required,
like Canada. The draft Decision is currently being submitted for opinion to the
Committee established by article 10 of Directive 2001/37/EC, and is expected to be ready for adoption by
the Commission in May 2003.