Cox set to step in over EP ‘chocolate cover-up’

By Peter Chapman

Date: 19/02/04

PAT Cox, the European Parliament president, is due to step in after MEPs caused uproar by voting to keep secret a controversial scientific report.

In a dramatic 11-8 vote, members of the assembly's Scientific and Technical Options Assessment group (STOA) opted not to publish the report on the choking risks posed by stuffing foods - such as Italian chocolate giant Ferrero Rocher's "Kinder Surprise" chocolate eggs - with tiny toys.

But European Voice has learned that the assembly's president believes the furore over the report could damage the Parliament's image - and that the decision should be re-examined in the public interest. His spokesman David Harley said it was an "absurd situation" that parents might not be able to read the report and make up their own minds on the issue.

"The STOA panel has the power to do what it has done and that would normally be the end of the matter," added Harley. "But I know some MEPs have said they want to take matters further, and Mr Cox would not object . . . he would like to see the whole thing clarified."

Harley said the discussion of whether or not to publish the report might take place in the Parliament's "bureau" - comprised of Cox and the assembly's 14 vice-presidents.

Despite the clamour to keep the report by UK based Risk & Policy Analysts Limited under lock and key, its findings, seen by this newspaper, are relatively modest. It concludes that choking risks are "not zero" but are "demonstrably low".

But opponents claimed it was not based on sound scientific evidence, even though a leading independent body of scientists gave its approval. They said publishing it would lead to scare stories about children dying from choking on the tiny toys.

Some deputies, including UK Socialists Glyn Ford and Eryl McNally said they were intimidated by lobbyists for chocolate firms in the run up to last week's vote. Ford resigned from his position on the STOA panel in protest.

They claimed some MEPs on the group had bowed to the lobbying barrage to keep the report under wraps.

The European Parliament's Scientific and Technical Options Assessment group (STOA) voted to keep secret a controversial scientific report on the choking risks posed by placing toys within food products such as 'Kinder Surprise' chocolate eggs. Pat Cox, President of the European Parliament, is concerned the row over the report may harm the Parliament's image.

http://europarl.europa.eu/stoa/default_en.htm http://europarl.europa.eu/stoa/default_en.htm

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