WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1968/96 by Friedrich-Wilhelm GRAEFE zu BARINGDORF to the Commission. BSE
Date: 1996-07-16
Institutions: European Parliament, GRAEFE ZU BARINGDORF
Subjects: United Kingdom, World Health Organisation, analytical chemistry, animal disease, cattle, disease prevention, live animal, public health, scientific research, veterinary medicine













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91996E1968

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1968/96 by Friedrich-Wilhelm GRAEFE zu BARINGDORF to the Commission. BSE  


Official Journal C 011 , 13/01/1997 P. 0033 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-1968/96 by Friedrich-Wilhelm Graefe zu Baringdorf (V) to the Commission (16 July 1996)Subject: BSEThe Commission has repeatedly expressed the view that the various methods of testing for BSE which have been debated in the media are unsuitable and unreliable. What scientific research supports this Commission standpoint? In particular, what research has been undertaken into Dr H. Narang's live animal test and taken into account in the Commission's view?The Commission, citing the World Health Organization, has expressed the view that, in certain circumstances, the production of gelatin is safe as regards exposure to infectious material. Is the Commission familiar with the scientific basis of the WHO's position? Is it true that sodium lye (NaOH) is often not used in the production of beef gelatin, and that even when it is, the concentration is around 20 times too low to inactivate the agent, according to the present state of knowledge?Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (7 October 1996)The Commission is aware of the live animal tests cited by the Honourable Member and has offered the scientist the opportunity to have his tests represented independently by the United Kingdom's authorities. He has not accepted the offer. Other test methods which have been discussed are based upon examining samples of cerebrospinal fluid. Such sampling is very difficult to perform in live animals and is consequently not appropriate for a large-scale screening programme. However, the Commission will of course assess any test methods for live animals which may be proposed. Recently, information has been received on a test for scrapie using tonsil biopsy. This is under scrutiny, and could prove useful for BSE.The Commission has asked Professor Weissman of Zurich to set up a group of experts to advice on research needs, including the field of testing of live animals. His report is expected soon.The report of a World health organization consultation on public health issues related to human and animal transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, of 2-3 April 1996, states:'Gelatin in the food chain is considered to be safe if produced by a manufacturing process utilizing production conditions which have been demonstrated to significantly inactivate any residual infectivity that may have been present in source tissues.'The scientific references on which this opinion was based are set out in the annex to the report.The Commission is aware of various production methods for gelatin. For production of gelatin in the United Kingdom, Commission Decision 96/362/EC ((OJ L 139, 12.6.1996. )) requires that the raw materials may only be low risk tissues in accordance with the International office of epizootics criteria and that the process must include both alkaline and acid treatment or alkali alone for extended periods of time at high concentrations, followed by heat treatment. The methods are currently under review.