WRITTEN QUESTION No. 602/96 by Martina GREDLER to the Commission. Use of chloramphenicol for livestock
Date: 1996-03-13
Institutions: European Parliament, GREDLER
Subjects: antibiotic, food inspection, health risk, livestock farming, marketing restriction, public health, slaughter animal, toxic substance, veterinary medicinal product













EUR-Lex - 91996E0602 - EN






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91996E0602

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 602/96 by Martina GREDLER to the Commission. Use of chloramphenicol for livestock  


Official Journal C 217 , 26/07/1996 P. 0077 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-0602/96 by Martina Gredler (ELDR) to the Commission (13 March 1996)Subject: Use of chloramphenicol for livestockThe antibiotic, chloramphenicol, has been in use since 1947. Consumption by humans of meat from animals treated with the substance can lead to alterations in the composition of the blood, which in extreme cases can be fatal.It was for this reason that agreement was reached to stop using the antibiotic to treat livestock after the end of 1996.Chloramphenicol has been banned in Austria for five years. Alarming reports have emerged in Germany, however, that traces of chloramphenicol have been found in up to 20% of meat selected for testing. This has been reported by official veterinary inspectors.In what countries is chloramphenicol still being used?Are there countries in which particularly high levels of the substance have often been found in routine sampling?What likelihood is there of consumers unknowingly purchasing meat containing chloramphenicol?Has the Commission any idea of the extent of farmers' remaining stocks of this antibiotic available for use before the end of 1996?Does the Commission intend to take measures to buy remaining stocks of the antibiotic back from farmers to prevent the possibility of further large quantities being used before the deadline expires?Has the Commission considered informing consumers in the transitional period by indicating which kinds of meat are most likely to be affected?Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (24 April 1996)For the public health reasons cited by the Honourable Member, the use of chloramphenicol has been banned throughout the Community since June 1994. Commission Regulation (EC) No 1430/94 of 22 June 1994, ((OJ L 156, 23.6.1994. )) amending the annexes to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2377/90 establishing a Community procedure for setting the maximum residue levels for veterinary medicines in foodstuffs from animals, included chloramphenicol in Annex IV (list of banned substances).The Commission is aware of the problem in Germany, where farm checks revealed residues of the substance in more than a few samples taken from animals, particularly in the first half of last year. In accordance with Article 9 of Council Directive 86/469/EEC on the detection of residues in animals and fresh meat, ((OJ L 275, 26.9.1986. )) the German authorities introduced very tight checks, especially in farms, and launched an information campaign targeted at vets, pharmacists and farmers on the problems illegal use of chloramphenicol could cause.The proposals for Council regulations on the checks for certain substances and their residues to be carried out on live animals and derived produce ((COM(93) 441 final. )) were sent to Parliament and the Commission in September 1993 and look likely to be adopted in the next few weeks. Under the proposed measures, Member States will be able to impose tough penalties on breeders and those issuing or administering banned substances. These will include severe administrative sanctions and on-spot fines irrespective of any legal action the relevant Member States may also decide to take against offenders.