WRITTEN QUESTION No. 129/98 by Eva KJER HANSEN to the Commission. Chemicals in textiles
C 223/120 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17. 7. 98 (98/C 223/153) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0128/98 by John Iversen (PSE) to the Commission (22 January 1998) Subject: Transport of calves and maximum weights In the Commissionís answer P-3757/97 (1) it is asserted, without documentary backing, that the best slaughter-calves with a live weight of 300 kg can yield a carcass weight above 160 kg. Even if this is were correct, it would still be mathematically impossible to obtain an average of 162 kg for all calves of live weights below 300 kg. On page 12 of the Commissionís report, COM(97) 165, there is a breakdown of calves for slaughter in the Netherlands from December 1996 to 1997 week/12. Column II shows calves which, regardless of the early marketing premium, would have been delivered in those weight groups, i. e. the breakdown for 1995. These 84 464 calves had an average weight of 118. 7 kg. If Column II is extrapolated to include weight groups up to 165 kg, it is mathematically impossible to distribute the remaining 284 150 calves delivered in the Netherlands over a sixteen week period among these weight groups so as to end up with a weighted average of 162 kg for these 368 614 calves. Even if the remaining 284 150 calves are assumed each to weigh 162 kg, the weighted average will still only be 154 kg. As of course all other calves will not be delivered at 300 kg live weight and with ágood to excellent conformationí there must have been errors in the Dutch and Belgian returns to Eurostat. 1. Will the Commission give documentary evidence of the average carcass weight for calves whose live weight is less than 300 kg? 2. Will the Commission show the distribution of calves slaughtered in 1995 in the Netherlands and Belgium, broken down by weight groups? If this is claimed to be impossible, will the Commission state the estimated distribution among the weight 3. groups for the Netherlands and Belgium of slaughter calves which can produce an average weight of 162 kg? (1) OJ C 174, 8. 6. 1998, p. 120. Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (13 February 1998) The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible. (98/C 223/154) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0129/98 by Eva Kjer Hansen (ELDR) to the Commission (23 January 1998) Subject: Chemicals in textiles Tests of textiles have revealed that they often contain large quantities of chemicals such as formaldehyde, azo-dyes, dioxin and pesticides as well as heavy metals such as copper, chrome, cobalt, zinc and nickel which are suspected of causing cancer, allergies and eczema and damaging embryos. Since there are no common EU rules on labelling or prohibitions on the subject and only very few Member States have any, consumers are at a disadvantage