B4-0447, 0448, 0449, 0450, 0451, 0452, 0453 and 0454/98

Resolution on antibiotics in animal feed

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its opinion of 19 February 1998 on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive amending Council Directive 93/74/EEC on feedingstuffs intended for particular nutritional purposes and amending Directives 74/63/EEC, 79/373/EEC and 82/471/EEC ((Minutes of that sitting, Part II, Item 4.)), (COM(97)0408 - C4 - 0409/97 - 97/0208(COD))

- having regard to Council Directive 70/524/EEC concerning additives in feedingstuffs as last amended by Commission Directive 97/6/EC ((OJ L 35, 5.2.1997, p. 11.)) which prohibits the use of avoparcin with the aim of protecting consumers,

A. whereas the use of antibiotics and similar substances in animal feed is already subject to stringent controls; whereas there are concerns about the possible consequences of widespread use of antibiotics in animal feed production in terms of animal and human health, and the medical implications thereof,

B. whereas some Member States have, in the case of certain antibiotics and certain similar substances, instituted the safeguard procedure pursuant to Article 11 of Council Directive 70/524/EEC referred to above with the aim of prohibiting the use of such substances in all Member States,

C. whereas the protection of consumers and livestock must take precedence over economic interests, but whereas the possible risk or danger posed by the use of antibiotics in animal feed must be adequately proven by scientific means in order to justify a ban; and whereas recent WHO studies would appear to show that the systematic use of antibiotics during fattening periods may have adverse effects, including increased resistance of some bacteria,

D. whereas healthy breeding practices must aim to limit the use of antibiotics to purely therapeutic purposes,

1. Calls on the Commission to use the experiences of various Member States in banning certain antibiotics, such as avoparcin, tylosin, spiramycin and virginiamycin, and similar substances, such as carbadox and dimetridazole, as an opportunity to review the whole use of antibiotics and similar substances in animal feed in order to ascertain whether they pose a health risk;

2. Calls on the Commission to apply stringent scientific standards when assessing whether the use of antibiotics and similar substances as additives in animal feed and/or as medicinal products poses a health risk, so that any ban which might prove necessary may be implemented not only in the individual Member States of the EU but also in respect of imports of animal feed and meat from non-member countries;

3. Insists that, when the Council Directive 70/524/EEC referred to above is revised, it must be expressly stipulated that the precautionary principle must be applied to guarantee consumer health and safety as well as to safeguard producers' interests;

4. Urges the Commission to conclude its work in the Scientific Steering Committee on Animal Nutrition Special Working Group and inform Parliament about the resultsand calls on the Commission to promote research programmes on bacterial resistance and to strengthen its cooperation with the WHO in this field;

5. Calls on the Commission in this context to provide, before the end of 1998, a report on the current use of antibiotics in animal feed, specifying the animals concerned and naming the products used, including their chemical ingredients and quantities, and to assess the different substitutes available;

6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the governments of the Member States.