WRITTEN QUESTION E-0060/04 by Hiltrud Breyer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Chromium (VI) in leather.
Date: 2004-01-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: chromium, consumer protection, dangerous substance, health risk, leather, marketing, product safety

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/923

(2004/C 78 E/0976)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0060/04

by Hiltrud Breyer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(20 January 2004)

Subject: Chromium (VI) in leather

On 18 June 2003, Directive 2003/53/EC (1) of the European Parliament and the Council amending for the
26th time Council Directive 79/769/EEC (2) relating to restrictions on the marketing and use of certain
dangerous substances and preparations, including chromium (VI) in cement, came into force.

Various tests by industrial occupational health and safety agencies in Germany and the German TV
programme ‘ARD Ratgeber Bauen und Wohnen’ (ARD Guide to building and living) have now shown that
not only cement, but also many leather work gloves can contain extremely high levels of chromium (VI).
In the case of the gloves tested, the limits imposed in the above directive were exceeded many times over.
Various publications have shown this to be the case, and also for other leather products such as work
shoes.

1.

Is the Commission aware of these findings?

Does the Commission also intend to restrict the marketing of leather containing chromium (VI)? If

2.
so, when and how would this take place?

(1) OJ L 178, 17.7.2003, p. 24.
(2) OJ L 262, 27.9.1976, p. 201.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(23 February 2004)

The Commission is not aware of the specific recent results of investigations in Germany that have reported
high levels of chromium (VI) in a number of leather consumer products. Normally, any measure based on
such findings would have been communicated to the Commission and the other Member States through
the rapid notification and exchange of information system (RAPEX) of the Directive 2001/95/EEC of the
Parliament and of the Council of 3 December 2001 on general product safety (1). To date there has been
no official notification on the subject by the German authorities.

Within the framework of the Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 (2) a Risk Assessment (RA) of certain
chromium (VI) compounds has been performed. A Risk Reduction Strategy is expected at the end of 2004.

According to the RA-report, the treatment processes applied for leather (and wood) goods within the EU
are such that any exposure of consumers would be expected to be exclusively to chromium in the trivalent
state and not to chromium in the hexavalent state. The report however pointed out that there was no
information available concerning leather (and wood) goods imported from third countries and hence no
assessment was made of the potential human health risks from the possible presence of chromium (VI) in
such imported goods.

In recent months, however, the Commission has become aware of a number of scientific and lay press
publications reporting the presence and release of chromium (VI) in leather consumer products (gloves,
wrist bands, leather garments etc.). The Commission intends to initiate a systematic enquiry with the
Member States to obtain all available information on the matter.

C 78 E/924

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

On the basis of the available information, the Commission will seek the advice of one of its Scientific
Committees concerning the health risks that may be associated with the release of chromium (VI) in
leather products with a view to implement appropriate risk reduction measures.

(1) OJ L 11, 15.1.2002.
(2) Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 of 23 March 1993 on the evaluation and control of the risks of existing

substances, OJ L 184, 5.4.1993.

(2004/C 78 E/0977)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0064/04

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(20 January 2004)

Subject: Alarming rise in unemployment in Galicia: 7 465 newly unemployed people in December 2003
out of a total of 23 419 for Spain as a whole, bringing the rate of unemployment in Galicia to
12,36 %

There was a steep rise in the number of unemployed people in Spain in December 2003, with 23 419 new
jobless, the worst rise in the last ten years. Of these 7 465, or 32 % of the total, were in Galicia, although
the region accounts for only 7 % of the population. The unemployment rate in Galicia is now 12,36 %.
This adverse trend, further evidence of a link between low income and unemployment, calls for special
measures to tackle both serious problems simultaneously, particularly in Objective 1 regions such as
Galicia.

Is the Commission already aware of this negative trend in employment in Galicia? Is it willing to consider
special development measures to combat unemployment,
in liaison with the Galician and Spanish
authorities?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(10 February 2004)

The Commission closely monitors developments in the employment situation in all of Spain’s autonomous
communities.

As regards Galicia, for the 2000-2006 programming period, the regional authorities submitted a regional
development plan to the Commission that reflected the region’s potential and weaknesses and included
some employment-related measures.
the Commission decided to actively
In response to this plan,
contribute to development in Galicia by co-financing its Integrated Operational Programme for 2000-
2006. This programme stems from the Community Support Framework defining the development strategy
for the Spanish regions covered by Objective 1, including creating and maintaining jobs.

The Structural Funds contributed EUR 3 430 million out of a total budget of EUR 5 087 million. The
financial breakdown by Fund was as follows:

EC Participation

ERDF

ESF

EAGGF

Total: 3 430,058

100,00 %

2 335,7

68,10 %

392

11,43 %

702 358

20,48 %

(million euro)

This operational programme can be modified according to the way in which the region’s job market
laid down in Article 42 of Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 (1), has
evolves. The mid-term evaluation,
recently been finalised. It will form the basis for any modification of the programme deemed necessary and
for possible reprogramming.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds,

OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.