WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2726/98 by Mary BANOTTI to the Commission. Soap containing mercury
14. 5. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 135/105 all peoples as a matter of prime importance and works in close cooperation with Unesco and other international organizations to that end, will the Commission say what initiatives it will take to have the monuments of the region of Kosovo classified as part of the world cultural heritage and protected accordingly? Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission (15 October 1998) The Commission is aware of the threat to the cultural heritage monuments in Kosovo due to the armed conflict. The Commission has no competence to classify cultural heritage monuments in the world heritage list. This is the exclusive responsibility of the United Nations educational, scientific and cultural organisation (Unesco) and as the Honourable Member is aware, such an initiative has to be undertaken by the authorities of the country in question through the diplomatic procedures established by Unesco. (1999/C 135/124) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2726/98 by Mary Banotti (PPE) to the Commission (1 September 1998) Subject: Soap containing mercury Can the Commission inform me if skin-whitening soaps containing mercury are still being produced for export from the EU? Can the Commission inform me in which Member States the manufacture of this banned product continues? Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (30 September 1998) The safety of cosmetic products marketed in the Community is ensured by the provisions of Council Directive 76/768/EEC of 27 July 1976 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to cosmetic products (1) (the Cosmetics Directive). The use of mercury and its compounds in cosmetic products marketed in the Community is prohibited through the provisions of Annex II, ‘List of substances which must not form part of the composition of cosmetic products’. The Cosmetics Directive refers to the placing on the market of cosmetic products in the Community. There are no provisions that cover the manufacture of cosmetic products for export to third countries. Rather, the marketing of products in third countries is considered a matter for the legislation of the appropriate authority holding jurisdiction in the country in question. Further, the Cosmetics Directive does not require the notification of manufacturing sites that produce products intended solely for export to third countries. Therefore, the Commission is not in a position to address the question of whether skin whitening mercury based soaps are still in production for export from the Community. (1) OJ L 262, 27. 9. 1976