WRITTEN QUESTION No. 81/98 by Patricia McKENNA to the Commission. Non-ionising radiation
17. 7. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 223/105 As the Commission is well aware of the different problems related to baby walkers, it has taken action in order to address potential deficiencies. After agreement by the Member States, the Commission issued a mandate to the European standardisation organisations for the drafting of a European standard to take into consideration all potential safety aspects. Another action taken is the financing of the study mentioned by the Honourable Member, which will improve the knowledge of different safety dangers and will provide important data for the standardisation work. To assure that the safety of consumers and other consumer interests are fully taken into account in the standardisation process, the Commission supports the functioning of ANEC, the European association dealing with co-ordination and representation of consumers into standardisation. The Commission will continue to follow this issue closely. (98/C 223/133) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0081/98 by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Commission (30 January 1998) Subject: Non-ionising radiation In June 1996 the European Commission published a study called Non-ionising radiation: sources, exposure and health effectsí. Can the Commission give details of any work it has conducted on non-ionising radiation since this report was published? Has it published any other reports relating to this topic since then? Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (12 March 1998) Since publication of the comprehensive review document on non-ionising radiation, a group of experts has provided advice to the Commission on further research into possible health effects of mobile phones. This has been taken into account in the Commissionís proposal for the fifth framework programme on research. The expertsí proposal was made available, and sent to interested Members of the Parliament. A copy is sent direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliamentís Secretariat. The Commission participates in the World health organisation (WHO) project on electro-magnetic field research which intends to produce an environmental health criteria document on health hazard assessment. Community research is, at present, co-ordinated under the COST programme. The Commission, finally, has work in hand to propose in due course a Council recommendation that is intended to be of guidance for Member States which wish to take initiatives for the health protection of the general public. (98/C 223/134) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0083/98 by Carlos Robles Piquer (PPE) to the Council (30 January 1998) Subject: Fair trial for those accused of the attack on Pan Am flight 103 The US State Department has just taken out full page advertisements offering up to US$ 4 million for information leading to the arrest of Lamen Khalifa Fhimah and Abdel Basset Al-Megrahi, both of Libyan citizenship, who are accused of having carried out the brutal act which cost the lives of 270 people on Pan Am flight 103 and on British soil on 21 December 1988