WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1725/98 by Graham MATHER to the Commission. Marketing authorization for veterinary medicinal products used for horses
Date: 1998-06-05
Institutions: European Parliament, MATHER
Subjects: United Kingdom, application of EU law, equidae, horsemeat, human nutrition, leisure, marketing, veterinary drug, veterinary legislation, veterinary medicinal product

5.2.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 31/43

(1999/C 31/054)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1537/98

by Caroline Jackson (PPE) to the Commission

(18 May 1998)

Subject: Equine medicines

The EU classification of horses as food producing animals is causing problems in the United Kingdom where
there are a large number of recreational horses, and where many of the drugs used do not currently have the
maximum residue levels necessary in the case of use for food producing animals. The costs of establishing an
MRL is prohibitively high in such cases, given the relatively small turn-over of drugs for horses. Concern is being
expressed at the effects of the withdrawal from sale of many drugs widely used for horses in Britain, as a
consequence of EU legislation.

Can the Commission state whether it is prepared to introduce a derogation from Community legislation which
would allow Member States to authorise the use of certain veterinary medical products for recreational horses,
despite the absence of maximum residue levels for these?

(1999/C 31/055)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1725/98

by Graham Mather (PPE) to the Commission

(5 June 1998)

Subject: Marketing authorization for veterinary medicinal products used for horses

Under Council Directive 81/851/EEC (1), in order to obtain marketing authorization, veterinary medicinal
products used for food-producing animals must be listed in Annexes I, II or III to Council Regulation 2377/90 (2).

The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) asserts that, because of the approaching expiry date for
applications for the establishment of maximum residue limits (MRL), the welfare and health of horses and ponies
is now under serious threat, since most drugs used for horses do not have an MRL and the cost of establishing one
is, in many cases, prohibitively high.

BEVA further asserts that the application of this regulatory regime to veterinary medicinal products used for
horses is inappropriate, since the vast majority of horses will never enter the human food chain.

What comments does the Commission have to make on this matter?

(1) OJ L 317, 6.11.1981, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 1.

(1999/C 31/056)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1921/98

by Lutz Goepel (PPE) to the Commission

(18 June 1998)

Subject: Use of medicinal products for horses used for sport

In the European Community, horses are currently deemed to be animals which are a source of food.
Consequently, when equidae are treated with medicinal products Regulation (EEC) 2377/90 (1) and subsequent
amending Regulations, most recently Regulation (EC) 613/98 (2), laying down maximum residue limits of
veterinary medicinal products in foodstuffs of animal origin, apply.

Since more than 90 % of all horses are kept for sports and leisure purposes, the needs regarding the level of
medical care are correspondingly high. Medicinal products are used which, on account of the maximum residue
limits (MRLs) which must be laid down by 2000, rule out their use as food.