91999E2026

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2026/99

by Caroline Jackson (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 November 1999)

Subject: Organophosphate sheep dips

Can the Commission say whether the EU is helping finance any research projects into the effects on human health of the handling of organophosphate sheep dips, and whether it has any plans either to ban such dips, or to reinforce the safety measures that must be employed when they are being used?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(20 December 1999)

The Commission can confirm that the Community is not directly funding any research projects into the effects on human health of the handling of organophosphate sheep dips. In addition, there are no Community plans to ban such dips or to lay down safety measures that must be employed in addition to those already provided by the manufacturers and by individual Member State national legislation.

There is no current project in agriculture research within the agro-industrial research (AIR) and fisheries, agriculture and agro-industrial research (FAIR) programmes on this matter.

However, a research proposal on this theme could be submitted to key action 5 of the specific programme Quality of life and management of living resources of the 5th framework programme for research and technological development (RTD). One of the priorities of the above key action is Health and welfare of animals used in farm livestock production. Research activities on improved methods for evaluating the impact of veterinary products on public and animal health could be addressed to this key action.