Impact on jobs of Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011 on the recovery and sale of fabric offcuts less than three metres long

12.11.2014

Question for written answer E-009116-14
to the Commission
Rule 130
Lorenzo Fontana (NI) , Matteo Salvini (NI)

Further to question for a written answer No E-005961/2012 and the points raised therein with the Commission and without prejudice thereto:

Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011 makes it mandatory for fabrics to be labelled with information about the producer or importer, the fibre composition, the presence of harmful substances, the materials or methods used in their production and instructions and/or precautions for their use.

This mandatory labelling also applies to fabric offcuts, rendering their recycling uneconomic. The regulation is having an incontrovertibly negative impact, both economically and in terms of jobs, on the business sector selling fabric offcuts.

The disposal of huge quantities of fabrics rendered, to all intents and purposes, useless has an impact on the environment.

The current economic situation being what it is, many people in the EU have no choice but to make some everyday items for themselves using fabric remnants.

Finally, in its reply to Question E-005961/2012 the Commission said it was engaging ‘with the national authorities of Member States and also with stakeholders to examine issues related to the implementation of this new regulation’.

In light of the aforegoing, could the Commission provide information on the outcome of the dialogue with Member State authorities?