WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2474/97 by Hiltrud BREYER to the Commission. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals in baby toys
25. 5. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 158/7 How serious a health risk does the Commission consider the use of salt to be? What does it propose to do to eliminate the health risk posed by salt in Europe? Does the Commission regard salt as an additive or a foodstuff? Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (1 October 1997) The sodium component of salt has indeed been implicated in a number of medical conditions and diseases, but any risks are dependent upon intake, which, in turn, is mainly determined by dietary habits in general and individual choices. Sodium chloride otherwise known as common salt is considered as food ingredient by Community legislation. Apart from the declaration of salt in the list of ingredients, sodium must be declared in nutrition labelling under certain conditions as provided by Directive 90/496/EEC on nutrition labelling for foodstuffs (1). In addition products presented as foods for particular nutritional uses (diet foods) with low sodium content are subject to further labelling rules as stipulated in Directive 89/398/EEC relative to foodstuffs intended for particular nutritional uses (2). The conditions for the use of the term álow-sodiumí will be harmonised at Community level in the future on the basis of the relevant report of the scientific committee for food. Finally, in the context of the programme of Community action on health promotion, information, education and training in the framework for action in the field of public health (3), action is foreseen concerning the better understanding of the role of nutrition and other life-style factors in the etiology of diseases and the dissemination of information to the public to improve understanding of basic nutritional principles and of new techniques and methods of presenting and preparing foodstuffs. (1) OJ L 276, 6. 10. 1990. (2) OJ L 186, 30. 6. 1989. (3) OJ L 95, 16. 4. 1996. (98/C 158/10) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2474/97 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission (16 July 1997) Subject: Endocrine-disrupting chemicals in baby toys 1. What action does the Commission intend to take to warn consumers across Europe of the potential dangers of plastic toys for young babies, following the withdrawal from the market of PVC plastic baby toys in Denmark, Italy and Spain after evidence from the Danish Environmental Protection Agency of dangers to babies from the leaking of plastics into their mouths when sucking on these products? 2. Will the Commission participate in the international working group set up by the toy industry to investigate this problem and will it be informed of the results of their investigation? 3. In view of the scientifically documented risks for human health from endocrine-disrupting chemicals, does the Commission consider immediate action is necessary to protect at least the most vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women and young children first? 4. In view of the documented trans-generational effects of some hormone-disrupting chemicals, whose effects may not appear on the exposed individuals but are then passed onto the next generation, does the Commission agree that immediate action to protect and inform consumers is required now, based on the precautionary principle?