WRITTEN QUESTION No. 4020/97 by Panayotis LAMBRIAS to the Commission. Lead in drinking water
22. 6. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 196/59 (98/C 196/81) WRITTEN QUESTION E-4019/97 by Panayotis Lambrias (PPE) to the Commission (14 January 1998) Subject: Funding of research into allergies According to recent estimates, one third of Europeís population suffers from some kind of allergy. Will the Commission say how it intends to adapt the planned fifth research and development framework programme to secure financial support for research into allergies in Europe, in view of the fact that the cost of these allergies has been estimated at ECU 30 billion per year. Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (25 February 1998) Within the 5th framework programme for research, technological development and demonstration activities (1998-2002) proposal, as modified by the Commission on 14 January 1998 after the first reading by the Parliament (1), the scientific and technical objectives of the first activity Improving the quality of life and the management of living resourcesí include, in the key action Health, food and environmental factorsí, the development of tests to detect and process to eliminate toxic agents, which includes also allergic agents, as well as research into allergies related or influenced by the environment, and into their treatment and prevention. Community research activities are intended to be complemented by a future public health action programme on pollution-related diseases that will place emphasis on respiratory diseases and allergies. The Commission proposal is at present negotiated in the Parliament and Council (2). (1) COM(98) 8. (2) OJ C 214, 16. 7. 1997. (98/C 196/82) WRITTEN QUESTION E-4020/97 by Panayotis Lambrias (PPE) to the Commission (14 January 1998) Subject: Lead in drinking water The World Health Organization has dramatically reduced the permissible level of lead in drinking water. Will the Commission say what measures it proposes to take to help Member States reduce the quantities of lead in drinking water as rapidly as possible and to provide widespread information for local government bodies and, more generally, for the people of Europe in view of the hazard lead poses for human health, especially that of infants and children. Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (18 February 1998) In its proposal (1) for revision of Council Directive 80/778/EEC of 15 July 1980 relating to the quality of water intended for human consumption (2) (the drinking water directive) the Commission adopted the value recommended by the World health organisation (WHO) of 10 microgrammes per litre (10 mg/l) for lead. This standard was accepted by the Parliament (first reading on 12 December 1996) and in the common position of the Council (No 12767/97) on the proposed directive, which was adopted on 19 December 1997. Once the directive is adopted, in principle during 1998, its implementation is the responsibility of the Member States. Given the important financial and practical consequences, exceptionally for lead, Member States will have fifteen years, instead of the five years general timetable, to comply with the parametric value of 10 mg/l. Between five and fifteen years the interim standard will be 25 mg/l instead of 50 mg/l which is the present standard for lead. (1) OJ C 131, 30. 5. 1995. (2) OJ L 229, 30. 8. 1980