How much money has the EU Commission given to the ‘Make Mine Milk’ campaign (http://www.makeminemilk.co.uk/) including any staff costs, equipment costs, consultancy costs, advertising costs and any other service which the Commission has provided for the campaign?
Could the Commission confirm that the British government did not apply for European Solidarity Funding following the Cumbria floods of 2009?
Under the European Solidarity Fund’s, there are provisions for funding an ‘extraordinary regional disaster’, which is, “where the majority of the population of a region is affected, and if it is deemed that the disaster will have serious and lasting effects on its economic stability and living conditions”. Could the Commission define what is meant by ‘region’: does this refer to European Parliamentary region? NUTS region? National region?
In 2009, Cumbria was hit by floods that caused tremendous physical damage, and economic and social disruption with school and business closures and losses. Whilst the floods did not qualify for funding under the European Solidarity Fund’s main stream (i.e. 0.6% GDP damage), the circumstances the flood created may have qualified under the ‘extraordinary regional disaster’ criteria. Could the Commission comment on whether or not this flooding qualified under this definition or not?
Strychnine (strychnine hydrochloride) has been used as a cost effective and humane way of controlling the mole population in the UK for many years before being banned under the Biocide Directive (91/414/EEC, 98/8/EC) in 2006. Now moles are being controlled using aluminium phosphide, which is more expensive, causes a long painful death and can also kill other animals accidentally. Therefore, what was the Commission’s reason for the unnecessary ban of strychnine in the first place?
Question: Given that the European Union does not tolerate the use of chromium and cadmium in electrical appliances (see Directive 2002/95/EC(1)), can the Commission explain what restrictions are in place with regard to the use of chromium in paint?
Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission
Directive 2002/95/EC restricts the use of cadmium in electrical and electronic equipment falling under its scope. However, the directive does not restrict the use of chromium as such. Instead, the directive restricts a particular chemical form of chromium, namely, hexavalent chromium, also known as chromium VI. The directive therefore restricts a large group of compounds containing hexavalent chromium, all of which are highly oxidizing, and which are classified as carcinogens. Those restrictions apply to new equipment placed on the market since 2006. Similarly, Directive 2000/53/EC(1), as amended, restricts the use of hexavalent chromium in new vehicles placed on the market after 2003, and Directive 94/62/EC(2) restricts the use of hexavalent chromium in packaging
The use of carcinogens by workers is regulated by Directive 90/394/EC(3) under which manufacturers are obliged to use non-carcinogenic substitutes wherever possible, or to provide adequate protective equipment in cases where substitution is not possible.
The placing on the market of carcinogens for supply to the general public is regulated by Annex XVII of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006(4) (the REACH Regulation). Entry 28 of Annex XVII (as amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 552/2009(5)) bans the placing on the market and use of carcinogenic substances as substances, as constituents of other substances or in mixtures (e.g. paints) for supply to the general public. The supply of paints containing hexavalent chromium to the general public is therefore banned.
The use of paints containing hexavalent chromium in the European Union is therefore restricted to those industrial uses where substitution is not possible. They were used in the past to provide corrosion protection as primers before application of the final decorative coat of paint, for example on motor vehicles, refrigerators, etc. However, due to the restrictions mentioned above, very few, if any, goods manufactured in the EU for supply to the general public contain such paint. However, apart from those articles that would fall within the scope of Directives 2002/95/EC, 2000/53/EC or 94/62/EC, there are no restrictions on the import, placing on the market or use of articles treated with paints containing hexavalent chromium compounds.
(1) OJ L 269, 21.10.2000.
(2) OJ L 365, 31.12.1994.
(3) OJ L 196, 26.7.1990.
(4) OJ L 396, 30.12.2006.
(5) OJ L 164, 22.06.2009.
