WRITTEN QUESTION P-0669/97 by John Iversen (PSE) to the Commission (26 February 1997)

Subject: Residues of antibiotics in meat

What initiatives does the Commission intend to take on pork and veal production now that the Belgian consumer organization, Test Achat, has documented a high content of antibiotic residues in meat from some Member States?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (7 April 1997)

The Test Achat investigation of antibiotic residues in meat revealed the presence of anti-microbial activity in some of the meats sampled but did not identify or quantify the residues present. Thus the information in the report does not show that most of the positive samples were above the maximum residue limit laid down in European-level rules and the conclusion that consumer health is endangered appears to be exaggerated.

The results obtained for each Member State from the investigation will however be turned to account in modification of the annual residue monitoring plans provided for by Council Directives 86/469/EEC of 16 September 1986 on examination of animals and fresh meat for the presence of residues ((OJ L 275, 26.9.1986. )) and 96/23/EC of 29 April 1996 on measures to monitor certain substances and residues thereof in live animals and animal products and repealing Directives 85/358/EEC and 86/469/EEC and Decisions 89/187/EEC and 91/664/EEC ((OJ L 125, 23.5.1996. )), so that control pressure can be more effectively targeted on the livestock sectors identified and the plans' effectiveness improved accordingly.. Directive 96/23/EC lays down measures and penalties to be applied by Member States to farmers and others involved in the production chain when needed on occasions when these official checks reveal the presence of abnormal residues of authorized substances.

The Commission is also aware of consumer concern over the potential risk of induced bacterial resistance in animals possibly transferable to man and would remind the Honourable Member that by Commission Directive 97/6/EC of 30 January 1997 amending Council Directive 70/524/EEC concerning additives in feedingstuffs ((OJ L 35, 5.2.1997. )), provisionally prohibiting the use of avoparcin as an animal feed additive, it has required a surveillance programme on microbial resistance in animals that have received antibiotics to be carried out. It has also undertaken to mount various investigations into development of microbial resistance through antibiotic use.

As regards European policy on antibiotic use, authorization requirements for the marketing and use of anti-microbial substances were set by Council Directive 81/851/EEC of 28 September 1981 on approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to veterinary medicinal products ((OJ L 317, 6.11.1981. )) and 70/524/EEC of 23 November 1970 concerning additives in feedingstuffs ((OJ L 270, 14.12.1970. )). Since 1 January 1997 antibiotics may be administered to food producing animals as veterinary medicinal products only if listed in Annexes I, II, or III to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2377/90 of 26 June 1990 laying down a Community procedure for the establishment of maximum residue limits of veterinary medicinal products in foodstuffs of animal origin ((OJ L 224, 18.8.1990. )), as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 434/97 of 3 March 1997 ((OJ L 67, 7.3.1997. )), or are currently undergoing evaluation in the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA). In the latter case an application and a dossier must have been submitted to EMEA before 1 January 1996. The Council has given an extension for these antibiotics until 1 January 2000.

Community rules already exist on identification of farm animals and the keeping of farm registers containing full information on medicines administered and waiting periods to be observed.