WRITTEN QUESTION E-0726/00

by Inger Schörling (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(17 March 2000)

Subject: Homeopathic medicines in stock farming

Under a new Regulation (Council Regulation (EC) No. 1804/1999(1) of 19 July 1999 supplementing Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91(2) on organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs to include livestock production), organically reared animals are, primarily, to be treated with homeopathic and herbal medicines, provided they are effective.

It is very constructive that homeopathic and herbal medicines are now accepted and are to be used but, in Sweden, veterinary surgeons have protested against the rule as they are not permitted to use homeopathic medicines as long as there is no scientific evidence that such preparations are effective. In contrast, anyone who is not a veterinary surgeon is allowed to treat sick animals with homeopathic medicine.

The consequence of this situation is that it is left to farmers first to make a diagnosis and then to try a homeopathic treatment. There is a great risk in this process that a correct diagnosis and professional treatment will come too late. There is also a greater risk of spreading disease.

What does the Commission intend to do to ensure that animals in all countries receive professional and appropriate treatment and that veterinary surgeons are also allowed to use homeopathic and herbal medicines?

(1) OJ L 222, 24.8.1999, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 198, 22.7.1991, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(18 April 2000)

Under Council Regulation (CE) no 1804/1999(1), sick or injured animals reared in organic farming should be treated with veterinary medicinal products of plant origin or homeopathic products, provided their therapeutic effect is effective and adapted to the sickness and to the animal species. If this is not the case, the use of chemically synthesised allopathic medicinal products is allowed under the responsibility of a vet.

Every medicinal product of whatever origin must comply with specific rules before it can be marketed and used, whether in organic farming or in conventional animal husbandry. According to the principles laid down in Article 4 of Directive 81/851/EEC,(2) no veterinary medicinal product may be marketed in a Member State and no veterinary medicinal product may be administered to animals unless authorization has previously been issued.

Directive 92/74/EEC(3) provides for a special simplified registration procedure for homeopathic veterinary medicinal products. Under this simplified registration scheme, demonstration of efficacy of the product is not required. Article 7 of this Directive, however, explicitly excludes from this simplified procedure products which are intended for food producing animals.

The term phytotherapeutic medicinal product is not known in Community pharmaceutical legislation and medicinal products containing active herbal ingredients need to be authorised like any other veterinary medicinal product. Therefore, according to Community pharmaceutical legislation both phytotherapeutic and homeopathic veterinary medicinal products for food producing animals must be authorized in accordance with the provisions of Directive 81/851/EEC, including the provisions concerning proof of therapeutic effect.

These rules are intended to assure the quality, safety and efficacy of veterinary medicinal products. They apply to anyone who places on the market and administers veterinary medicinal products to animals in the Community. Neither vets nor farmers are according to Community law allowed to use homeopathic or phytotherapeutic veterinary medicinal products unless they have been authorized in accordance with the provisions of Directive 81/851/EEC, including the provisions on the proof of therapeutic effect.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 1804/1999 of 19 July 1999 supplementing Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 on organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs to include livestock production.

(2) Council Directive 81/851/EEC of 28 September 1981 on the approximation of the laws of theMember States relating to veterinary medicinal products, OJ L 317, 6.11.1981.

(3) Council Directive 92/74/EEC of 22 September 1992 widening the scope of Directive 81/851/EEC on the approximation of provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action relating to veterinary medicinal products and laying down additional provisions on homeopathic veterinary medicinal products, OJ L 297, 13.10.1992.