WRITTEN QUESTION No. 4036/98 by Ursula SCHLEICHER Consumer protection - radiation from sun beds
C 320/110 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 6. 11. 1999 during the interim period. For workers who have worked in Switzerland for less than one year, periods of employment in other Member States will not be aggregated to overcome the waiting period (six months) for entitlement to Swiss unemployment benefits. (1) OJ C 6, 10. 1. 1998. (1999/C 320/146) WRITTEN QUESTION E-4029/98 by Honório Novo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (8 January 1999) Subject: Export refunds in respect of traditional cheeses According to information received, export refunds are available for traditional cheeses (with designations of origin), but only for ones whose fat content does not exceed certain levels. This rule means that hardly any Portuguese cheeses made from sheep’s or goat’s milk (which account for a significant number of the designation-of-origin cheeses produced in Portugal) are entitled to any export refund. In view of the above, would the Commission answer the following questions? 1. 2. Is the Commission aware of the fact that the current rules prevent virtually all traditional Portuguese cheeses made from sheep’s or goat’s milk from receiving any kind of export refund? is the Commission considering any changes to those rules in order to put an end to this If so, discriminatory state of affairs? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (19 February 1999) The Commission does not believe that the export refunds system discriminates against particular Portuguese cheeses made from sheep’s or goat’s milk. Such cheeses exist in several Member States, but they have not brought similar complaints to the Commission’s attention. (1999/C 320/147) WRITTEN QUESTION E-4036/98 by Ursula Schleicher (PPE) to the Commission (8 January 1999) Subject: Consumer protection 6 radiation from sun beds There have been repeated reports in Germany to the effect that the radiation from sun beds in solariums exceeds the statutory limit values, staff are inadequately trained and customers are not being properly informed of the risks and of how to operate sun beds. Since excessive UVB radiation can cause skin cancer, there is a need for stricter monitoring. Hitherto sun beds have been monitored in Germany only on a voluntary basis. TÜV Rheinland (technical inspection institute) awards a ‘tested solarium’ certificate on the basis of an assessment of the safety provisions and the level of knowledge of the staff. However, only 45 out of 9 000 solariums in Germany have been awarded this certificate