WRITTEN QUESTION E-2361/99 by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Council Directive 96/29/Euratom.
21. 11. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 330 E/9 the harmonised standards for lifts into Danish, Finnish, Greek, Does the Commission feel that the principle of equality is jeopardised through the non-availability of 1. the translation of Italian, Dictum, Portugueseís, Spanish and Swedish? If so, what action will it take to have the technical standards laid down in the lifts directive translated forthwith into the eleven official languages of the European Union? If not, what principles of European law does the Commission use to justify limited translation (German, English and French) of the standards? 2. Can the lifts directive be implemented properly if the harmonised standards have not been translated into the eleven official languages of the European Union? If so, what arguments would the Commission use in support of this position? If not, is application of the lifts directive impossible until a translation is available for manufacturers who speak a different Italian, Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish)? language (Danish, Finnish, Greek, (1) OJ L 213, 7. 9. 1995, p. 1. Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (19 January 2000) European standards are drawn up by the European standards bodies in their official languages. In the 1. case of the European committee for standardisation (CEN) and the European committee for electrotechnical standardisation (Cenelec), these are English, French and German. The European telecommunications standards institute (ETSI) adopts its European standards in English. Such standards have to be transposed into national standards by the national standards bodies. The internal rules of the European standards bodies allow, but do not require, translation of European standards. The question of translation is a matter entirely for the national standards bodies themselves and for national authorities. In various Member States, translation has been made obligatory. Given the specific role of harmonized standards, the Commission considers that all parties should have access to such standards. Depending on the specific nature of the sector and the standard, and the perceived needs of the market ü this may imply that there is a need to make those standards available in the languages of to national standards bodies that translate harmonized standards into national languages. the countries concerned. The Commission provides financial support 2. Just as with all other ánew approachí directives, the application of standards is voluntary in the framework of Parliament and Council Directive 95/16/EC of 29 June 1995 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to lifts. New approach directives can be implemented without standards or before they become available. Manufacturers have to meet the essential requirements of directives, not to comply with harmonized standards. Standards are a useful tool to facilitate implementation, which explains why in most cases harmonized standards are in fact translated. (2000/C 330 E/008) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2361/99 by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission (13 December 1999) Subject: Council Directive 96/29/Euratom Regarding Council Directive 96/29/EURATOM (1), allowing the presence of low level radiation in 1. certain products, is there any way in which consumers and/or businesses can ascertain which products are radiation-free and which are not? How does the Commission define which products are radiation-free? 2. Regarding Council Directive 96/29/EURATOM, allowing the presence of low level radiation in certain products, does the Commission anticipate any problems resulting from the varying standards C 330 E/10 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 21. 11. 2000 applied by each Member State to regulation of products emitting low level radiation, for example in relation to the import of wastes, component and finished products; discharges into air or cross border waterways; import of meat and livestock from overseas countries whose standards are less strict than the EUís. (1) OJ L 159, 29. 6. 1996, p. 1. Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission (17 January 2000) Council Directive 96/29/Euratom of 13 May 1996, establishes the basic safety standards for the protection of the health of workers and the general public against the dangers arising from ionising radiation. The Directive must be implemented in national legislation by May 2000. It replaces the previous standards laid down in Council Directive 80/836/Euratom as amended by Directive 84/467/Euratom (1). Since the first standards were introduced in 1959, revisions have regularly been adopted to take account of evolving knowledge of the effects of ionising radiation and operational experience in radiation protection. The new Directive addresses the issue of very low levels of radioactivity in consumer goods in a more coherent and restrictive way than previously. Exemption values below which sources need not be reported, are in general much lower than before. This guarantees that such goods can circulate freely. The possible exposure of the population as a result of trace amounts of radioactivity is negligible. The basic safety standards ensure uniform introduction in Member Statesí legislation of exemption values. For the release of materials which can be re-used or recycled, the new Directive specifies the basis for setting clearance levels. These are set by Member States, taking Community guidance into account. With regard to discharges of effluents in air or waterways, it is up to Member States to set the discharge limits, while respecting the dose limit to members of the public. However, under Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty, Member States submit to the Commission general data on each plan for the disposal of radioactive waste, and the Commission gives an opinion whether this is liable to affect the environment of other Member States. With regard to foodstuffs, Council Regulation (EEC) No 737/90 of 22 March 1990 on the conditions governing imports of agricultural products originating in third countries following the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station (2) establishes maximum permitted levels of radioactivity for the import from third countries. Compliance with these levels is ensured by Member States. (1) OJ L 265, 5. 10. 1984. (2) OJ L 82, 29. 3. 1990. (2000/C 330 E/009) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2399/99 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (16 December 1999) Subject: Cleaning up the legacy of asbestos pollution in the European Union The use of asbestos fibres has been banned since 1997 because of the risk to public health. This legacy of pollution therefore needs to be disposed of as rapidly and as efficiently as possible. A detailed inventory of asbestos and clear directives on disposal are of the utmost importance in this respect. 1. Does the Commission have an accurate and detailed inventory of the áhistoricalí use of asbestos in the 15 EU Member States on the basis of sales figures of the asbestos producers? If not, will the Commission set about creating such an inventory so that disposal can be carried out rapidly and efficiently in the near future?