WRITTEN QUESTION E-1591/03 by António Campos (PSE) to the Commission. Toys in foodstuffs.
Date: 2003-05-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: accident in the home, confectionery product, consumer policy, consumer protection, product safety

C 268 E/202

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

7.11.2003

(cid:1) in Denmark and the United Kingdom a yoghurt containing a toy (Onken) was also voluntarily

withdrawn from the market;

(cid:1) in Finland a chocolate egg containing a novelty toy manufactured in Austria was withdrawn from the

market.

Meanwhile, unscrupulous manufacturers continue to advertise and sell their food products under the
pretext of offering a toy (which is of course just another marketing gimmick to promote the food product),
which can cause fatal accidents and irreparable damage to the lives of families.

What specific action will the Commission take with a view to protecting European consumers?

(2003/C 268 E/227)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1591/03

by António Campos (PSE) to the Commission

(8 May 2003)

Subject: Toys in foodstuffs

In view of the fatal accidents in which children have died of asphyxia in the last few years, some of the
more conscientious manufacturers have voluntarily withdrawn potentially dangerous products from the
market:

(cid:1) Nestlé withdrew its ‘Magic Ball’ (a chocolate-covered plastic ball containing a figurine of a Disney

character) because toys inside food products are considered extremely dangerous;

(cid:1) in Denmark and the United Kingdom a yoghurt containing a toy (Onken) was also voluntarily

withdrawn from the market;

(cid:1) in Finland a chocolate egg containing a novelty toy manufactured in Austria was withdrawn from the

market.

Meanwhile, unscrupulous manufacturers continue to advertise and sell their food products under the
pretext of offering a toy (which is of course just another marketing gimmick to promote the food product),
which can cause fatal accidents and irreparable damage to the lives of families.

What specific action will the Commission take with a view to protecting European consumers?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-1475/03, E-1505/03, E-1552/03 and E-1591/03
given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(5 June 2003)

The Commission has answered several previous parliamentary questions on the matter raised by the
Honourable Members, so it would ask them to refer in particular to the joint answers to Written Questions
E-0504/02 by Ms Karamanou and E-0548/02 by Mr Alavanos (1), and to Written Questions E-2630/00 by
Mr Moreira Da Silva, E-2631/00 by Ms Damião and E-2632/00 by Mr Lage (2).

With regard to the accidents mentioned in Written Question E-1505/03, the Commission has contacted
the authorities of the countries concerned in order to obtain details of these accidents and to assess them.
In addition, the Commission will pay close attention to the results of the current investigation, coordinated
by Parliament’s STOA (Scientific and Technological Options Assessment) Unit, into the possible risk of
combining food products with non-food products.

7.11.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 268 E/203

Any new factor arising from this information will be examined to determine whether initiatives should be
taken at Community level.

(1) OJ C 205 E, 29.8.2002.
(2) OJ C 136 E, 8.5.2001.

(2003/C 268 E/228)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1507/03

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(5 May 2003)

Subject: Bankruptcy of Grundig AG and how to safeguard jobs in Portugal

The media have reported that Grundig AG filed for bankruptcy at the district court of Nuremberg,
Germany, on 14 April 2003.

Grundig currently controls the ‘Car InterMedia System’ (CIS) in Braga, Portugal, which employs around
700 workers, produces car radios and accounts for about 30 % of the production of Fehst Componentes
Lda, which has more than 300 employees. All this demonstrates the viability and self-sufficiency of CIS.

Grundig has a substantial impact on employment and regional development in the Braga area, hence our
concern at the decisions taken in Germany. It should be borne in mind that there are no alternative jobs
and that the relocation of other multinationals in the north of the country has helped to aggravate the
unemployment situation.

In view of the above, can the Commission say:

1. what Community support the Grundig Group has received, in particular the Car InterMedia System,

and what the terms of this support are;

2. what steps will be taken to safeguard the activity of CIS in Braga and the jobs it provides directly or
indirectly, bearing in mind that Portugal currently has the highest rate of unemployment in the
European Union?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(20 June 2003)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its
findings as soon as possible.

(2003/C 268 E/229)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1561/03

by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

(8 May 2003)

Subject: Implementation of Anti-Discrimination at Work Directive

Could the Commission indicate how many, if any, Member States have applied or plan to apply to avail
themselves of the extra three year period to implement the provisions in the areas of disability and age
discrimination of the Anti-Discrimination at Work Directive (cid:1) Directive 2000/78/EC (1) (cid:1) adopted by the
Council in November 2000, which has to be implemented by the end of 2003 at the latest, and if so,
could it outline what reasons, if any, have been given to justify these delays?

(1) OJ L 303, 2.12.2000, p. 16.