WRITTEN QUESTION E-3779/00

by Roberto Bigliardo (TDI) to the Commission

(4 December 2000)

Subject: Administration of massive doses of antibiotics to calves to speed up fattening

Is the Commission aware that numerous press articles have for some time been condemning the use of massive doses of antibiotics and other unspecified drugs to fatten calves more quickly? In March 1999 the Brussels-based committee of consumer associations, which acts as an advisory body to the Commission, spoke out against the use of antibiotics as growth promoters for farm animals. The statement was based on the 1997 World Health Organisation recommendations and those of doctors in 30 countries which urged the Union to set up a monitoring system to deal with bacteria that were resistant to antibiotics. According to world experts in the field, the use of antibiotics almost inevitably increases resistance in bacteria. In view of this very serious threat to the health of European citizens, what steps has the Commission taken or will it take to prohibit the inappropriate use of these drugs? If steps have been taken, which countries have opposed them?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(11 June 2001)

The Commission shares the concerns of the Honourable Member on the need to reduce the risk for human health derived from antimicrobial resistance. However, as highlighted by the scientific community and by the Report on antimicrobial resistance adopted by the Scientific Steering Committee in June 1999, the problem of antibiotic resistance requires a comprehensive control strategy, not limited to a specific sector such as animal production.

The Commission is aware of press articles concerning use of antibiotics and other substances to speed up the fattening of farmed animals. The use of antibiotics having growth promoting effects is regulated by Council Directive 70/524/EEC of 23 November 1970 on additives in feeding stuffs(1). There are still four antibiotics authorised under this Directive. The Commission is committed to pursue the recommendation of the Scientific Steering Committee and in particular to phase out the use of agents from classes which are or may be used in human or veterinary medicine and to make all efforts to replace the antibiotics by non-antimicrobial alternatives.

In the reports provided by the Member States on control activities carried out in 1999 on animal nutrition, there is no evidence of major infringements to Community legislation concerning such products. In addition, the Commission took the initiative to ask the Member States for information specifically on the implementation of recent bans on the use of antibiotics in animal nutrition. In the replies so far received, there are no elements to confirm a massive and illegal use of antibiotics.

Concerning the control on other uses of antibiotics in animals such as therapeutic or prophylactic applications, information is also requested under Council Directive 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(2). This Directive imposes

the sampling for the detection of residues in accordance with a programme established by the Member States and approved by the Commission and includes additional controls on feedingstuffs and drinking water. The yearly reports for 1998 and 1999 have not confirmed a massive abuse of antibiotics.

Although some actions have been already undertaken such as gathering data on the current consumption of antibiotics in animal nutrition and the requirement to monitor the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in target microbial species from animals fed antimicrobial growth promoters, these actions shall be considered in a more comprehensive strategy. In this respect a Commission communication outlining a wider action plan is under preparation and will be presented shortly.

(1) OJ L 270, 14.12.1970.

(2) OJ L 125, 23.5.1996.