WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1865/97 by Lis JENSEN to the Commission. Radioactive scrap metal in cans
10. 2. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 45/115 (98/C 45/144) WRITTEN QUESTION P-1865/97 by Lis Jensen (I-EDN) to the Commission (27 May 1997) Subject: Radioactive scrap metal in cans According to a note from the Danish Environment and Energy Ministry, the Commission has decided to serve a letter of formal notice concerning lifting of the Danish ban on the marketing of beer and soft drinks in metal packaging. The waste-reprocessing company, British Nuclear Fuels, decontaminates and recycles radioactive scrap metal and, in its own view, keeps below the 400 Bq per kg limit value for metal which may be used in the manufacture of cans. In view of its wish to see the Danish ban lifted, will the Commission take account of the potential risk of radiation from metal from such sources and incorporate this factor in any assessment of the impact on health and the environment which it might undertake? Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (18 July 1997) Will the Honourable Member please refer to the joint answer given by the Commission to his written question P-1650/97 and Mr Scho¤rlingís P-1654/97 (1). (1) OJ C 373, 9. 12. 1997, p. 152. (98/C 45/145) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1873/97 by Gianni Tamino (V) to the Commission (30 May 1997) Subject: Fifth framework programme With regard to the section of the fifth framework programme relating to the living world and the ecosystem, the Commission has announced its commitment to projects concerning áthe cell factoryí and áhealth and foodí. 1. Will experiments on animals be scheduled or permitted for this purpose? 2. If so, will acceptance of projects be linked to compliance with the 50% reduction in the use of animals in experiments announced by the Commission in the fifth programme on the environment? Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (10 July 1997) In its proposal for a Council Decision on the Fifth Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration projects (1998-2002) (1) put forward by the Commission it is stipulated that: as far as possible animal experiments and tests on animals shall be replaced by in-vitro or other alternative methods. Experiments on animals are not precluded. It shall be limited to cases where it is necessary and there are no alternatives. (1) Doc. COM(97) 142