WRITTEN QUESTION E-1970/01

by David Bowe (PSE) to the Commission

(5 July 2001)

Subject: Link between Crohn's disease and paratuberculosis

As Mycobacterium Avium Paratuberculosis (MAP) is classified as a pathogen as set out in the EC Directive 93/88/EEC(1) as amended by EC Directives 97/59/EC(2) and 97/65/EC(3), has the Commission made any plans for its urgent removal from the food chain?

(1) OJ L 268, 29.10.1993, p. 71.

(2) OJ L 282, 15.10.1997, p. 33.

(3) OJ L 335, 6.12.1997, p. 17.

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(5 September 2001)

Directive 2000/54/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 18 September 2000 on the protection of workers from risks related to exposure to biological agents at work(1) consolidates Council Directive 90/679/EEC of 26 November 1990(2), which was subtantially amended on several occasions, inter alia by the directives mentioned by the Honourable Member (97/59/EC, 97/65/EC and 93/88/EC).

Article 2, paragraph 2 of Directive 2000/54/EC stipulates that biological agents shall be classified into four risk groups, according to their level of risk of infection. The agents Mycobacterium avium/intracellulare and Mycobacterium paratuberculosis are classified as group 2 biological agents which can cause human disease and might be a hazard to workers; it is unlikely to spread to the community; there is usually effective prophylaxis or treatment available (see Article 18 and Annex III of Directive 2000/54/EC).

In the light of speculation that Crohn's disease in man and paratuberculosis in animals could be caused by the same organism Mycobacterium avium subspecies. Paratuberculosis (Map), the Commission has asked the commission scientific committees for an opinion on the subject. The Scientific committee on animal health and welfare examined the question and published its findings on 21 March 2000 on the Internet(3). Its conclusion was that The currently available evidence is insufficient to confirm or disprove that Map is a causative agent of at least some cases of Crohn's disease in man. There are sufficient grounds for concern to warrant increased research activity to resolve the issue.

Research activities both in Crohn's disease and paratuberculosis have been and are currently being supported by the Community successive Framework Programmes (FP) for research and technological development within the biomedical and agricultural programmes and also in the on going FP5 in the Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources Programme, in particular in Key Action 2 Control of infectious diseases. With regard to paratuberculosis in livestock, presently on going is the Concerted action for the setting up of an European veterinary network on diagnosis, epidemiology and research of mycobacterial diseases which gathers 28 laboratories from 15 Member States and which includes the public health implications of mycobacterial infections. In addition, two projects are currently under contract negotiation Paratuberculosis epidemiology and risk assessment: novel approaches to identify strain specific markers and The role of wildlife in the epidemiology of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis in domestic ruminants in Europe.

These projects will provide a better knowledge of paratuberculosis in livestock, necessary for the implementation of control and eradication measures.

As the link between Crohn's disease and paratuberculosis in animals has not been established, there are no specific rules concerning paratuberculosis in the current Community food hygiene legislation. However, there are some general rules according to which meat and milk from clinically ill animals, suffering for example from paratuberculosis, are rejected from human consumption. These provisions are included in Council Directive 64/433/EEC on health problems affecting intra-Community trade in fresh meat(4) and Council Directive 92/46/EEC laying down health rules for the production and placing on the market of raw milk, heat-treated milk and milk-based products(5).

The Commission will follow closely the situation and the research on paratuberculosis and Crohn's disease and will immediately take appropriate measures to protect the safety of consumers if grounds for concern emerge.

(1) OJ L 262, 17.10.2000.

(2) OJ L 374, 31.12.1990.

(3) Possible links between Crohn's disease and Paratuberculosis, Report of the Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare adopted on 21 March 2000, http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/scah/out38_en.pdf.

(4) OJ B 121, 29.7.1964 modified, OJ L 257, 28.9.1985.

(5) OJ L 268, 14.9.1992 OJ L 41, 18.2.1993.