EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/844

(2004/C 78 E/0898)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3652/03

by Dana Scallon (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(2 December 2003)

Subject: Stem cells and stem-cell lines

Has the Commission funded the production of any stem cells and stem-cell lines? How many projects were funded? In which countries? How much money was spent?

How many embryos were used to create the two stem-cell lines in the UK and the seven stem-cell lines in Sweden?

Does this represent the total number of stem cell lines created in Europe since 27 June 2002?

Has the European Commission funded the import of any embryonic stem cells or embryonic stem cell lines? How many have been imported? How much did they cost?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(16 January 2004)

No Community funds have been spent until now on research activities aiming at producing human embryonic stem cell lines.

In the Fifth Framework Programme (1998-2002), around 60 research activities having at least one stem cell research activity component, have been funded. A list of these projects is sent direct to the Honourable Member and to the Secretariat general of the Parliament. Among those, only two projects have a research component aiming to involve existing human embryonic stem cell lines. All these projects represent in total a community contribution of close to EUR 90 million. However, the information regarding the specific amount of money only dedicated to stem cell research within these projects is not available to the Commission. Regarding the countries involved, most of the Member States are represented as well as third countries such as, Switzerland, Israel, Hungary, Norway, etc. More details on the participants of these projects and the countries involved can be found on the internet site of Cordis (1).

The information on the number of embryos used to create the two stem cell lines in the United Kingdom and the seven stem cell lines in Sweden is not available to the Commission.

The Commission does not have definitive information on the total number of human embryonic stem cell lines created in Europe since 27 June 2002. The picture regarding the total number of such lines created in Europe is continuously evolving. Because the procurement of human embryonic stem cells from supernumerary embryos is now allowed by law in seven other Member States (B, DK, GR, ES, F, NL, FI), it is probable that new lines are under development. In particular, the report provided by Astrid Thors, rapporteur appointed by the Committee on Legal Affairs and the Internal Market to draft an opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision amending Council Decision 2002/834/EC of 30 September 2002 (2) on the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration: ‘Integrating and strengthening the European research area’ (2002-2006) (3), mentions that three lines could be available in Helsinki but does not say anything about their date of production.

All the human embryonic stem cell lines used, until now, in the Community funded projects are existing lines created outside the Union. As mentioned above, two projects are concerned in the Fifth Framework Programme: one plans to work on two lines imported from the American National Institute of Health registry and the other involves an Israeli line for research activities performed in Israel. In the current Sixth Framework Programme and following the first call for proposals, one proposal that involves a component of research with a human embryonic stem cell line from the American National Institute of Health registry could receive funds. As indicated in paragraph 1, the Commission is not in a position to know if the costs of importation have been included in the Union contracts. The average cost for the lines listed in the American National Institute of Health registry is USD 5 000-6 000 per line, but only for research use.

(1) http://dbs.cordis.lu/fep/LIFE/LIFE_PROJ1_search.html

(2) OJ L 294, 29.10.2002.

(3) COM(2003) 390.