CELEX: 51988PC0121
Language: en
Date: 1988-03-11
Title: PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION AMENDING DECISION 84/133/EEC INTRODUCING A COMMUNITY SYSTEM FOR THE RAPID EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION ON DANGERS ARISING FROM THE USE OF CONSUMER PRODUCTS

11. 5. 88                           Official Journal of the European Communities                          No C 124/9
                                                            II
                                                   (Preparatory Acts)
                                              COMMISSION
          Proposal for a Council Decision amending Decision 84/133/EEC introducing a Community
          System for the rapid exchange of information on dangers arising from the use of consumer
                                                        products
                                                  COM(88) 121 final
                          (Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 18 March 1988)
                                                     (88/C 124/11)
          THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
          Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in
          particular Article 235 thereof,
          Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
          Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament,
          Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee,
          Whereas Article 8 (2) of Council Decision 84/133/EEC (*) provides that the Decision remain
          in force for a period of four years from the date of its notification and that, in the light of
          experience, the Commission present a report with proposals on the basis of which the Council
          may decide upon the continuation or revision of the system;
          Whereas in view of the intention of the Commission to submit to the Council a proposal for a
          directive on consumer safety it is appropriate to extend for six more years the period in which
          the Decision is to remain in force without introducing any other changes for the present,
          HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
                                                        Article 1
          In Article 8 (2) of Decision 84/133/EEC 'four years' is replaced by '10 years'.
                                                        Article 2
          This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
          O O] No L 70, 13. 3. 1984, p. 16.
 ---pagebreak--- N o C 124/10                              Official J o u r n a l of the E u r o p e a n C o m m u n i t i e s                  11. 5. 88
                                                                   ANNEX      II
                List of subjects which have been dealt with by the rapid exchange of information since September 1979
           The problems identified below relate to isolated cases only and not to a problem of the food in question.
             1.          Cases in 1979
             1.1.        Damaged calamares (level of total basic volatile nitrogen too high)                  September 1979
             2.          Cases in 1980
             2.1.        Frozen skate wings (too high level of total basic volatile nitrogen)                      26. 1. 1980
             2.2.        Corned beef (blown cans)                                                                  24. 3. 1980
             2.3.        Quick-frozen prawns (staphylococcus)                                                      10. 4. 1980
             2.4.        Quick-frozen frogs' legs (too high level of total basic volatile nitrogen)                10. 4. 1980
             2.5.        Powdered blood for blood sausage (escherischia)                                           30. 4. 1980
             2.6.        White calamares (too high level of total basic volatile nitrogen)                         12. 6. 1980
             2.7.        Frozen sweetbreads (microbial contamination)                                              20. 6. 1980
             2.8.        Canned concentrated tomato puree (too high lead level)                                     1. 7. 1980
             2.9.        Cooked shoulder of pork (badly cooked)                                                     5. 8. 1980
             2.10.       White of seiche (too high level of total basic volatile nitrogen)                         26. 8. 1980
             2.11.       Canned baby food (synthetic hormones)                                                      8. 9. 1980
             2.12.       Sweetbreads (adulterated)                                                               13. 10. 1980
             2.13.       Quick-frozen prawns (microbial contamination)                                             7. 11. 1980
             2.14.       Babies' dummies (nitrosamines)                                                          10. 12. 1980
             2.15.       Aerosols containing artificial snow danger of becoming inflammable                      22. 12. 1980
             3.          Cases in 1981
             3.1.        Canned sliced mushrooms (microbiological contamination)                                    6. 1. 1981
             3.2.        Apples (azinphos-methyl)                                                                   6. 1. 1981
             3.3.        Canned ham (botulism toxins)                                                               3. 3. 1981
             3.4.        White bean curd with chilli (botulism toxins)                                             15. 6. 1981
             3.5.        Spoiled oil in Spain                                                                   October 1981
             3.6.        Canned tuna fish from Morocco (too high level of histamine)                             14. 10. 1981
             3.7.        Frozen cooked lobster (poisoning: cause unknown)                                        14. 10. 1981
             3.8.        Frogs' legs (elostridium and escherischia)                                              24. 11. 1981
             3.9.        Sardines (too high level of histamine)                                                  25. 11. 1981
             3.10.       Peanut butter (aflatoxins)                                                              10. 12. 1981
             3.11.       Tuna fish                                                                                14. 12. 1981
 ---pagebreak--- 11. 5. 88                        Official Journal of the European Communities                        N o C 124/11
          4.    Cases in 1982
          4.1.  Frozen fillet of sole (unsatisfactory bacteriological criteria)             5. 2. 1982
          4.2.  Canned salmon (botulism toxins)                                             7. 2. 1982
          4.3.  Canned salmon (microbial contamination)                                    23. 4. 1982
          4.4.  Chocolate bars (salmonella)                                                28. 7. 1982
          4.5.  Frozen shelled prawns (unsatisfactory bacteriological criteria)            10. 8. 1982
          4.6.  Canned tuna fish (too high level of histamine)                             23. 8. 1982
          4.7.  Quick-frozen green beans (solarium nigrum)                                13. 10. 1982
          4.8.  Sweet bottles (size of the stopper)                                       14. 12. 1982
          4.9.  Canned peeled tomatoes from Italy (too high level of tin)                 19. 12. 1982
          5.    Cases in 1983
          5.1.  Quick-frozen frogs' legs (salmonella)                                       4. 1. 1983
          5.2.  Concentrates of vegetable soup containing yeast extracts (bacillus cents)  27. 1. 1983
          5.3.  Tea (belladonna)                                                            4. 2. 1983
          5.4.  Sweets (glutamates)                                                         8. 2. 1983
          5.5.  Filled chocolate bars (pentachlore-phenol)                                 21. 2. 1983
          5.6.  Canned smoked shark (quicksilver)                                           9. 3. 1983
          5.7.  Canned mushrooms (botulism toxins)                                         22. 3. 1983
          5.8.  Paste for spreading (botulism toxins)                                      11. 4. 1983
          5.9.  Oil-contaminated cocoa beans                                               28. 4. 1983
          5.10. Batches of vanilla (formol)                                                14. 9. 1983
          5.11. Brie cheese (microbial contamination)                                     13. 10. 1983
          5.12. Munster cheese (microbial contamination)                                  16. 11. 1983
          6.    Cases in 1984
          6.1.  Peanuts (aflatoxins)                                                        4. 1.1984
          6.2.  Shrimps (contamination by shigella)                                        16. 1.1984
          6.3.  Herb tea of bardane (presence of root of belladona)                        23. 1.1984
          6.4.  Drinking water (nitrates)                                                  25. 1.1984
          6.5.  Pasta (presence of staphylococcus in certain lasagne)                       7. 2.1984
          6.6.  Small fireworks                                                             9. 2.1984
          6.7.  Cereals treated with ethylene dibromide                                    23. 2.1984
          6.8.  Sneezing powders                                                           28. 2.1984
          6.9.  Ceramic vessels (lead contamination)                                       13. 3.1984
          6.10. Pentachlorophenol residues on the wood of fruit crates                     28. 3.1984
          6.11. French pate (salmonella)                                                   27. 6. 1984
          6.12. Melted cheese                                                              10. 7.1984
          6.13. Canned asparagus (botulism toxins)                                          6. 8.1984
          6.14. Kangaroo meat (unfounded)                                                  17. 9.1984
          6.15. Coloured and flavoured gums (lead and cadmium)                            26. 10.1984
          6.16. Cream pate (contaminated by salmonella isangui)                            7. 11.1984
 ---pagebreak--- N o C 124/12                         Official J o u r n a l of the E u r o p e a n C o m m u n i t i e s               11. 5. 88
             6.17. Pate                                                                                  23. 11. 1984
             6.18. Chewing gum (aluminium E 173)                                                         20. 12. 1984
             7.    Cases in 1985
             7.1.  Pasta with eggs and spinach (contaminated by staphylococcus)                             8. 5 1985
             7.2.  Mars bars (Sabotage in Japan, France and the United Kingdom)                             8. 7 1985
             7.3.  Lasagne (staphylococcus aureus)                                                          8. 7 1985
             7A.   Wines (containing diethylene glycol)                                                   12. 7 1985
             7.5   Grape juice (contaminated by diethylene glycol)                                          5. 8 1985
             7.6.  Ice mixes (with monethyl ether of diethylene glycol) (MEG)                               7. 8 1985
             7.7.  Quick-frozen rabbit (DDT content)                                                      28. 8 1985
             7.8.  Tomatoes and potatoes (pesticides)                                                     29. 8 1985
             7.9.  Maizena (chlorophenol)                                                                   3. 9 1985
             7.10. Gum sweets (containing diethylene glycol)                                              23. 9 1985
             7.11. Canned green beans (foreign toxic substance)                                           1. 10 1985
             7.12. Lasagne (contaminated by staphylococcus)                                              16. 10 1985
             7.13. DEG in cheese and curd (statistics during period 1980/81/82/83)
             7.14. Sodium azide in certain wines                                                         31. 10 1985
             7.15. Canned beans containing berries of solarium nigrum                                     6. 11 1985
             7.16. Contaminated tinned tomatoes for pizza (abnormal smell reminiscent
                   of faecal origin)                                                                      7. 11 1985
             7.17. DEG in champagne                                                                      19. 11 1985
             7.18. Food poisoned by a terrorist organization                                              9. 12 1985
             7.19. Powdered milk contaminated by salmonella                                              23. 12 1985
             8.    Cases in 1986
             8.1.  Threats of poisoning of tea                                                              7. 1. 1986
             8.2.  Threats of poisoning of food products                                                    9. 1. 1986
             8.3.  Malathion in rye                                                                       29. 1. 1986
             8.4.  Canned tomatoes                                                                        28. 2. 1986
             8.5.  Contaminated brie (information which appeared in the National Dairy
                   News of 28. 2. 1986)                                                                   28. 2. 1986
             8.6.  Imitation of foodstuffs                                                                  5. 3. 1986
             8.7.  Veal treated with hormones                                                             13. 3. 1986
             8.8.  Wines poisoned by methanol                                                             20. 3. 1986
             8.9.  Wines containing diethylene glycol                                                       9. 4. 1986
             8.10. Vermouth containing methanol                                                           28. 4. 1986
             8.11. Ethylcarbamate in spirits                                                              28. 4. 1986
             8.12. Alcoholic drink contaminated by sodium hydroxide                                       30. 4. 1986
             8.13. Chernobyl accident                                                                     30. 4. 1986
             8.14. Cheese contaminated by bacteria                                                        31. 5. 1986
             8.15. Detected penicillin in 689 cases of 'bovine eye rounds'                                 17. 7. 1986
             8.16. Fresh mussels contaminated by Saxitoxine                                               4. 12. 1986
 ---pagebreak--- 11. 5. 88                             Official Journal of the European Communities                    No C 124/13
            9.       Cases in 1987
            9.1.     Maize reclassification                                                  9. 1. 1987
            9.2.    Wines containing Ethylenglycol                                          23. 1. 1987
            9.3.     Green coffee beans containing Aflatoxines                              23. 1. 1987
            9.4.     Frozen mussels treated by irradiation                                  11.2. 1987
            9.5.     Canned mussels poisoned by Saxitoxine                                  16. 2. 1987
            9.6.    Artificial wines                                                        13. 4. 1987
            9.7.     Canned asparagus (See case 6.13 of 6. 8. 1984)                         24. 4. 1987
            9.8.     Liquid eggs imported into Germany                                       8. 5. 1987
            9.9.     Pesticide residues on strawberries and peppers originating from Spain   4. 6. 1987
            9.10.    Biotoxins in shellfish                                                  4. 6. 1987
            9.11.    Soda lye in orange juice                                                9. 6. 1987
          . 9.12.    Biotoxin in raw mussels                                                17. 6. 1987
            9.13.    Canned mussels poisoned by Saxitoxine. See case 9.5 of 16. 2. 1987     28. 8. 1987
            9.14.    PSP-toxin in live Portugese molluscs                                    1. 9. 1987
            9.15.    PSP in mussels                                                         8. 10. 1987
            9.16.    Residues of sulphur and copper in Italian grapes                       8. 10. 1987
            9.17.    Bacteria Listeria monocytogene in cheese of the type 'Vacherin Mont
                     d'Or'                                                                 27. 11. 1987
            9.18.    Shellfish poisoning in Canada                                         14. 12. 1987
           10.       Cases in 1988
           10.1.     Orange juice contaminated with potassium ferrocyanide                   8. 1. 1988
           10.2.     Salmonella Typhimurium 124 in a sausage of the salami type               2. 2. 1988
           Total 122 (2 February 1988)
 ---pagebreak--- No C 124/14                        Official Journal of the European Communities                            11. 5. 88
                                                     ANNEX III
            No           Non-food cases received
                        up to 31 December 1987                      Apparent danger          Date received
             1. Toy pistol                              fire from hot particles of cap        28. 5. 1985
             2. New Grobots etc. expanding              if swallowed, expands in the stomach
                novelties                                                                    20. 11. 1985
             3. Toy pistol                              ricochet of bullets                  20.2. 1986
             4. Portable radio                          electric shock                       20. 2. 1986
             5. Modelling clay                          case did not satisfy criteria         2.4.1986
             6. Insect killer                           electric shock                       27. 6. 1986
             7. Caravan                                 1. gas poisoning
                                                        2. fire
                                                        3. electric shock                    27.6. 1986
             8. Aquarium light                          electric shock                        4. 7. 1986
             9. Stairway lift for wheelchair            uncontrolled descent                  4. 7. 1986
            10. Steam sterilizer for false teeth        scalding                              4.7. 1986
            11. Hot air balloon (miniature)             fire                                  4.7. 1986
            12. Toy pistol                              too powerful                          4.7. 1986
            13. Motor winch                             backfiring                            4. 7. 1986
            14. Immersion heater (not fixed)            fire                                 25. 7. 1986
            15. Hammock                                 fall                                 11.7.1986
            16. Soldering iron                          electric shock                       29. 7. 1986
            17. Immersion heater (fixed)                electric shock                       29. 7. 1986
            18. Soldering iron                          electric shock                       29. 7. 1986
            19. Extension lead                          electric shock                       29. 7. 1986
            20. Smoothing iron                          electric shock                       29. 7. 1986
            21. Light fixture                           electric shock                       29. 7. 1986
            22. Free-standing electric adaptor          electric shock                       29. 7. 1986
            23. Industrial fuses                        explosion                            29. 7. 1986
            24. Two-pin plug                            electric shock                       29. 7. 1986
            25. Electric radiator (brand 1)             electric shock                       29. 7. 1986
            26. Electric radiator (brand 2)             electric shock                       29. 7. 1986
            27. Junction box                            electric shock                       29. 7. 1986
            28. Electric radiator (brand 3)             electric shock                       29. 7. 1986
            29. Condenser (brand 1)                     electric shock                       29. 7. 1986
            30. Condenser (brand 2)                     electric shock                       29. 7. 1986
            31. Deep-fryer                              electric shock                       29. 7. 1986
            32. Aquarium filter                         electric shock                        12.9. 1986
 ---pagebreak--- 11. 5. 88                          Official Journal of the European Communities                     No C 124/15
          No            Non-food cases received                      Apparent danger  Date received
                        up to 31 December 1987
          33.  Aquarium light                           electric shock                 12.9.1986
          34.  Toy electric oven                        electric shock                20.10.1986
          35.  Electric fan heater                      electric shock                24. 11. 1986
          36.  Magic love meter                         methanol                      27. 12. 1986
          37.  Christmas tree lights                    electric shock                27.12.1986
          38.  Electric coffee maker                    electric shock                 20. 1. 1987
          39.  Insta-mouss (miniature expanding
               toy vehicle)                             expansion after swallowing      2. 3. 1987
          40.  Screwdriver/mains tester                 electric shock                 28.5. 1987
          41.  Watch/lighter                            setting fire to clothing       17.6. 1987
          42.  Slide-on bunk bed                        fall                            2.6.1987
          43.  Toy push-chair                           to fingers                     18.8. 1987
          44.  Push-chair                               collapse of frame              21.8. 1987
          45.  Tin opener                               risk of handle flying off       15.9. 1987
          46.  Toy push-chair                           to fingers                      15.9. 1987
          47.  Gas cooker                               burns, explosion              29.10.1987
          48.  Immersion heater                         electric shock                 12.11.1987
          49.  Self-heating food-container              escape of caustic substances   30.10.1987
          50.  Piggy bank                               poisoning                      24. 11.1987
          51.  Electric storage heater                  electric shock/excessive heat  11.12. 1987
          52.  Radiant electric fire                    electric shock                 11. 12.1987
          53.   Parts for fuse                          electric shock                 11.12.1987
          54.   Halogene table lamp                     electric shock                 11.12.1987
          55.   Halogene table lamp                      electric shock                11.12. 1987
          56.   Spin drier                               laceration to hands           11.12. 1987
           57.  Electric kitchen slicer                  electric shock                11.12.1987
           58.  Hand-held brush vacuum cleaner           electric shock                11.12. 1987
           59.  Musical clown doll                       choking                       10.12. 1987