WRITTEN QUESTION E-0596/99

by Ian White (PSE) to the Commission

(12 March 1999)

Subject: Growth hormone rBST

1. Will the Commission insist that the relevant committees study all evidence concerning the impact on both animal and human health of the growth hormone rBST when the company that owns this drug applies for a licence to sell it for use within the EU?

2. Will the Commission follow the precautionary principle when the issue of granting the licence to sell the bovine growth hormone rBST is brought up?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(4 May 1999)

The Commission asked for an opinion from the specific veterinary committee on animal health and animal welfare, as well as from the scientific committee on public health, regarding the use of BST. Each of the two scientific committees has recently issued a scientific opinion relating to their specific tasks. The opinions are available on the Commission's Europa server. Based on these conclusions of the scientific opinions, the Commission, with a view to a decision being taken on this matter, will submit a report and a proposal on the future of the moratorium on bovine somatotrophin (Council Decision 94/936/EC)(1) to the Council and the Parliament.

(1) OJ L 366, 31.12.1994.