WRITTEN QUESTION E-3172/03 by Caroline Jackson (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Fire safety in hotels.
Date: 2003-10-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: building safety, consumer protection, hotel industry, safety standard

13.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 65 E/271

It was originally foreseen that the Italian proposal on replacement catalysts could be dealt with through the
Committee for Adaptation to Technical Progress (CATP). However, the proposal needed more time for
consideration by stakeholders and for the preparation of acceptable amendments. It should also be noted
that the inclusion of requirements for replacement catalysts in Directive 97/24/EC will extend the scope of
that Directive and this should not be addressed through CATP.

Replacement catalytic converters will therefore be dealt with in the overall package of measures to be
proposed to the legislators through co-decision. This package of measures is subject to an extended impact
assessment that will provide an evaluation of the Commission proposal to be presented to the Parliament
and Council during the beginning of 2004.

(1) Directive 2002/51/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 19 July 2002 on the reduction of the level of
pollutant emissions from two- and three-wheel motor vehicles and amending Directive 97/24/EC, OJ L 252,
20.9.2002.

(2) Directive 97/24/EC of

the Parliament and of

the Council of 17 June 1997 on certain components and

characteristics of two or three-wheel motor vehicles.

(2004/C 65 E/285)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3172/03

by Caroline Jackson (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(27 October 2003)

Subject: Fire safety in hotels

A consumer survey from May 2002 showed that 82 % of 80 hotels inspected were unsafe in the event of a
fire, due to management faults (misuse of emergency stairwells for storing maintenance equipment, fire
doors, fixed, open locking of emergency exit doors) and structural faults (single unprotected escape routes,
lack of fire and smoke compartments, incomplete and unclear orientation/guidance systems).

As the Commission has recognised that not all Member States have implemented the recommendation on
hotel fire safety, will the Commission, based on the consumer survey’s findings, now finally proceed with a
directive?

Has the Commission considered whether the proposed new legislative framework for ‘safety of services’ (1)
could be applicable to hotels, and would this make the recommendation on hotel fire safety superfluous?

(1) COM(2003) 313.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(20 November 2003)

The Commission is aware of the survey conducted in 80 hotels by consumer associations from five
Member States. Although it was not based on Council Recommendation 86/666/EEC on fire safety in
existing hotels (1), the Commission feels that it reinforces the analysis presented in its report on the
application of Recommendation 86/666/EEC (2).

The Commission therefore intends to continue as follows, in accordance with the guidelines set out in this
report:

(cid:1) in the cases provided for in Recommendation 86/666/EEC, to make greater provision for alternative

solutions where the technical guidelines cannot be implemented;

(cid:1) to clarify issues related to the monitoring by Member States of implementation of the Recom-

mendation;

C 65 E/272

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

13.3.2004

(cid:1) given the time which has passed since its adoption, to check whether the technical guidelines set out

in Recommendation 86/666/EEC need to be updated and/or improved;

(cid:1) to consider the advisability and potential means of identifying and disseminating best practice in fire

prevention.

In line with these guidelines, the Commission does not at this stage envisage submitting a proposal for a
specific directive on this subject.

The Commission also considers it to be of the utmost importance to have, as far as possible, objective and
full knowledge of the situation on the ground. To this end, it intends to complete its assessment of existing
regulations in this area in the Member States and to compile an inventory of hotel fires in the Community
between 1986 and 2003, including an analysis of their causes and consequences. These two measures will
allow a better evaluation of risks, thus creating a stronger basis and a clearer course for Community action.

With regard to the discussions under way on a Community legal framework for service safety, it would be
premature to speculate on its scope in relation to hotel fire safety. However, the Report from the
Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the safety of services for consumers (3) makes
it clear that tourism, leisure and sports activities will be priority sectors for the Community, and hotels will
be included in this.

(1) OJ L 384, 31.12.1986.
(2) COM(2001) 348 final.
(3) COM(2003) 313 final.

(2004/C 65 E/286)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3194/03

by Säid El Khadraoui (PSE) to the Commission

(22 October 2003)

Subject: Carcinogenic substance in baby food

Producers of baby food should replace the lids on their jars as quickly as possible. The lids contain low
doses of semicarbazide (SEM), a substance that can cause cancer in mice, according to the European Food
Safety Agency (EFSA). Research shows that a dose 40 000 times higher than a baby’s daily intake can cause
tumours in mice. According to the EFSA, the risk to babies is very small but, on the other hand, no
research has ever been carried out on human beings. The problem also arises with some brands of fruit
juice, jam, vegetables, mayonnaise and other foodstuffs packed in bottles and jars.

What is the Commission’s view of the EFSA’s research findings? How serious does it consider the risk to
babies, children and adults to be?

What action does the Commission intend to take? Can the Commission say exactly what measures will be
introduced and on what timescale?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(18 November 2003)

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is an independent authority with the task to provide the
Community Institutions and Member States with scientific advice and technical support in the area food
and feed safety. The risk assessment on semicarbazide (SEM) carried out by EFSA concludes that the risk to
the consumer and babies in particular is very small but that it would be prudent to reduce exposure to
SEM as swiftly as technological progress safely allows. The Commission is acting on this basis.

As soon as the Commission received the statements of EFSA concerning the safety assessment of foods and
in particular baby foods in glass jars and bottles, it convened a meeting with the Member States within the
Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health, which took place on 14 October 2003.