WRITTEN QUESTION E-0025/00 by Manuel Pérez Álvarez (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Safety of toys.
24. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 303 E/127 (2000/C 303 E/128) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0025/00 by Manuel PØrez `lvarez (PPE-DE) to the Commission (19 January 2000) Subject: Safety of toys All the year round, and particularly at this season, the media in general and television in particular invade our lives and homes with advertising for toys, targeted mainly at one particular audience, namely children. However, as we know, much of this advertising provides very little real information as to the nature and qualities of the products being marketed. Given that much of this advertising is simply misleading, what measures have been taken to prevent or eliminate its pernicious effects? Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission (24 March 2000) The television without frontiers Directive, (TVWF) Council Directive 89/552/EEC on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the pursuit of television broadcasting activities (1) as amended by Directive 97/36/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 1997 provides the legal framework for television broadcasting within the Community. The TVWF Directive, as adopted in 1989, contained certain provisions relating to television advertising. In particular, Article 16 specifically provided that television advertising should not cause moral or physical detriment to minors. When the Directive was reviewed, the Commission undertook to carry out a study on the impact of television advertising and teleshopping on minors, in the context of the next review of the television Directive, in accordance with Article 26. This study was launched in January 2000, and should be finished before the end of the year 2000. In addition to the television Directive, Council Directive 84/450/CEE of 10 September 1984 relating to the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning misleading advertising (2) applies in a horizontal manner to all advertising. It should be noted that the Commission is currently encouraging a dialogue between consumer associa- tions and industry about marketing practices targeting children. (1) OJ L 202, 30. 7. 1997. (2) OJ L 250, 19. 9. 1984. (2000/C 303 E/129) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0026/00 by Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (19 January 2000) Subject: Arms trade The unregulated trade in arms is a scourge with a destabilising effect. In various regions of the world the excess supply of arms on the local market ü sometimes in the literal sense of the word ü is a permanent breeding ground for terror and violence. Underhand practices such as diamond smuggling, extortion and the drugs trade often go hand in hand with illegal arms dealing. Accordingly, any country governed by the rule of law seeks to divert the arms trade into legal channels and to impose restrictions on it, albeit in different ways, resulting distortion of competition. Which Member States have banned arms trade with countries in conflict? Which Member States ban exports to countries which do not respect human rights and/or are engaged in internal armed conflicts in their territory?