WRITTEN QUESTION P-2921/98

by John Iversen (PSE) to the Commission

(25 September 1998)

Subject: Antibiotic growth promoters

A 62 year old Danish died recently having been infected by resistant salmonella DT 104 bacteria. Denmark has thus experienced the first death that can be directly linked to the treatment of animals with antibiotics.

At present it seems that we cannot ban all antibiotic growth promoters until scientific documentation is available. But there are often substances that the scientific committee cannot prove to be definitely harmful - and where there is doubt the consumer should come first. We now have evidence of a death - and how many deaths must there be before the Commission begins to take consumers' calls for unadulterated and healthy foodstuffs seriously?

We know for sure that there is a connection between antibiotic growth promoters and resistant bacteria. We do not yet have scientific evidence of how harmful that connection is for man. But no matter how great the risk I am sure that European consumers consider it to be unnecessary.

Whether or not to ban all antibiotic growth promoters in the EU is therefore a policy decision. Does the Commission not think it is time to put forward a proposal banning the use of all antibiotic growth promoters in the EU?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(17 November 1998)

As the Honourable Member states, a 62 year old Danish woman recently died as a result of complications after an infection caused by type 104 multi-resistant salmonella. That particular bacterium is known to be resistant to sulphonamides, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, trimethoprim, ciprofloxacin and tetracyclin. None of those molecules belongs to groups of antibiotics authorised as growth promoters in animal feed and it is therefore difficult to see how the additives could have caused direct or cross-resistance to the various antibiotics to which that salmonella has become resistant.

Within the current fourth framework programme for research and technological development (1994-98)(1), the Commission is already supporting projects relating to antimicrobial resistance in tuberculosis, multi-drug resistant salmonella and verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli. The Commission recognises the urgent need for increased research efforts in the field of antimicrobial resistance and has proposed major activities to be launched within the fifth framework programme (1998-2002)(2). This is expressed through theme 1 on the quality of life and management of living resources, primarily in key action 2 "Control of viral and other infectious diseases", which will adopt a target-oriented and multidisciplinary approach to address major issues related to the problem of antimicrobial resistance both in humans and in animals. Other activities addressing related issues will be key action 1 "Health, food and environmental factors" on food contaminants and key action 3 "The cell factory" on improved technology for production of antibiotics.

As the Honourable Member points out, there is a link between the emergence of resistant bacteria and the use of antibiotics either as human or veterinary medicine or as animal feed additives. The Commission has asked the Scientific Steering Committee to study the problem of resistance to antibiotics, giving it a mandate to cover their use as human or veterinary medicine and as animal feed additives. An initial guidance document is due at the end of 1998 and the Committee¢s final report should be available in April 1999.

The Commission has indicated on several occasions, in particular to Parliament, that it intends to take all the necessary steps to guarantee both the efficacy of medicine and food safety.

(1) OJ L 117, 8.5.1990.

(2) OJ C 173, 7.6.1997; amended by COM(98) 8 final.