WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2256/97 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. Dangerous preparations
C 76/84 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 11. 3. 98 In April 1997, the Commission addressed Recommendation 97/344/EC (5) to the Member States which identifies best practice in the field of improving and simplifying the business environment for newly created enterprises and sets out measures relating to the start-up phase involving national authorities. In particular the Recommendation focuses on the need to reduce administrative burdens imposed on business start-ups, and to make public administrations more business friendly. This includes establishing a single contact point for the registration of new enterprises, using single registration forms, and adopting single business identification numbers. The Recommendation also deals with the stimulation of businesses in their first years of development by suggesting the need to improve administrative procedures in respect of tax, social security and statistical collection. Most recently, the Amsterdam European Council confirmed strong commitment towards the simplification of legislative and administrative regulations to both improve the quality of Community legislation, and reduce the administrative burden on European business, particularly SMEs. The Commission was invited to set up a task force for this purpose and is currently considering how it can positively respond to the Council’s invitation. The idea of a task force would fit in very well and help focus the work that is already being undertaken within the Commission on improving the business environment, especially for SMEs and the craft sector. (1) CSE(95) 2087. (2) COM(96) 98 final. (3) OJ L 6, 10. 1. 1997. (4) COM(96) 329 final. (5) Commission Recommendation on improving and simplifying the business environment for business start-ups of 22. 4. 1997 › OJ L 145, 5. 6. 1997. (98/C 76/174) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2256/97 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (2 July 1997) Subject: Dangerous preparations The Commission has submitted a proposal for a European Parliament and Council directive concerning the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous preparations (COM(96) 347 final › 96/0200 COD) (1). Provision is made for a safety data sheet to be provided in the case of substances for which there are exposure limits at the work place. In cases where a substance poses health hazards (Article 16(2), first indent), will the Commission provide for the introduction of simplified data sheets bearing only those details truly necessary for users or consumers? (1) OJ C 283, 26. 9. 1996, p. 1. Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (4 September 1997) The proposal of the Commission for a Parliament and Council directive on classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous preparations requires safety data sheets to be completed in two different cases: › › for preparations classified as dangerous and to be provided on the first delivery for preparations not classified as dangerous to be provided on request and in cases where specified concentrations of substances are dangerous to health or where Community exposure limits at the work place are exceeded. In its first reading of the above mentioned proposal the Parliament discussed two amendments on simplified safety data sheets for preparations not classified as dangerous. At the plenary session on 25-26 June 1997 these amendments were rejected by the Parliament. As a consequence the Commission’s original proposal for Article 16 remains as such without any modification or reference to simplified safety data sheets