WRITTEN QUESTION E-1143/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(11 April 2000)

Subject: White Paper on Food Safety and the European Food Authority

The White Paper on Food Safety (COM(1999) 719 final) was published in January 2000. Chapter 4 is concerned with establishing a European Food Authority (EFA). Chapter 5 considers legislation on food safety.

A clear distinction is needed between the different groups of products used in animal feed. Grey areas are undesirable. In the long term no antibiotics may be used as growth promoters in the EU if they are used as medicines for humans and animals.

1. In contrast to other antibiotics, can antibiotics which are not used for therapeutic purposes for humans and animals be used in animal feed?

2. Will the Commission carry out, or arrange to be carried out, additional research into the risk of using antibiotics in animal feed?

3. Will the Commission seek at international level to harmonise the rules on antibiotics in view of the effect they have in distorting competition? If not, what policy will the Commission pursue if European producers experience disadvantages because they are not allowed to used certain products?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-1122/00, E-1127/00, E-1128/00, E-1140/00, E-1141/00, E-1142/00, E-1143/00, E-1144/00, E-1145/00, E-1146/00, E-1147/00, E-1148/00, E-1150/00, E-1151/00, E-1152/00, E-1153/00, E-1155/00, E-1156/00, E-1157/00, E-1158/00, E-1160/00, E-1161/00 and E-1162/00 given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(9 June 2000)

The issues raised by the Honourable Member are being studied with a view to bringing forward proposals for legislation according to the time scale set out in the white paper on food safety.

It would be inappropriate at this stage to anticipate the details of each proposal.