Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 453: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of EU directives awaiting transposition in her Department; the date by which these directives are to be, or were to be, transposed into Irish law; the number of such EU directives which are overdue for transposition; when the overdue directives will be transposed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10055/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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There are currently 7 EU Directives awaiting transposition in my Department. Details of the dates by which transposition is due are as follows:

(1) 2006/78/EC — amending Council Directive 76/768/EEC, concerning cosmetic products, for the purposes of adapting Annex II thereto to technical progress — due 30/03/07

(2) 2006/33/EC — amending Directive 95/45/EC as regards sunset yellow FCF (E110) and titanium dioxide (E171) — due 10/04/07.

(3) 2006/37/EC — amending Annex II to Directive 2002/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the inclusion of certain substances — due 30/04/07.

(4) 2006/52/EC, amending Directive 95/2/EC on food additives other than colours and sweeteners and Directive 94/35/EC on sweeteners for use in foodstuffs — due 15/02/08.

In addition 3 Directives are currently overdue for transposition as follows:

Directives 2004/24/EC and 2004/27/EC, relating to traditional herbal medicinal products, both of which were due to be transposed on 30 October, 2005. These Directives are being transposed by way of four draft Regulations to be made under the Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006, rather than under the European Communities Act 1973 as is normally the case.

As these draft Regulations update and replace national legislation it was necessary to notify them to Member States under the provisions of Directive 98/34/EC concerning the prevention of technical barriers to trade. The three month notification period required expires on June 6th 2007. No objections to the draft Regulations are anticipated from Member States and it is expected that the Regulations will be finalised thereafter.

2006/81/EC — adapting Directive 95/17/EC as regards the non-inclusion of one or more ingredients on the list used for the labelling of cosmetic products and Directive 2005/78/EC as regards the measures to be taken against the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants from engines for use in vehicles, by reason of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania — due 01/01/2007.

It should be noted that only the first part of this Directive is for the Department of Health and Children and as it would appear to relate solely to Bulgaria and Romania, my Department will be in touch with the European Commission with regard to the need to transpose this Directive.