WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2017/98 by Hiltrud BREYER to the Commission. Genetic engineering in organic foodstuffs (SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER)
Date: 1998-06-30
Institutions: BREYER, European Parliament
Subjects: United States, World Trade Organisation, environmental policy, foodstuff, genetic engineering, genetically modified organism, organic farming

C 135/10

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.5.1999

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-1979/98, E-2033/98, E-2064/98,
E-2079/98, E-2134/98 and E-2452/98
given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission

(12 October 1998)

The extension of the contract of the head of the Centre for the validation of alternative methods (ECVAM)
at the Joint research centre of Ispra, for a two-year period has been decided on the basis of technical and
managerial considerations. In the meantime, the Commission will do its best to maintain its commitments
and priorities to ECVAM.

The Commission remains fully committed to the validation of alternative methods as provided under
Directive 86/609/EEC on the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes (1).
Furthermore it is continuing to pursue its efforts to end animal tests in compliance with the requirements
of Directive 76/768/EC (2) as last modified by Directive 93/35/EC (3) relating to cosmetic products at the
earliest possible opportunity.

(1) OJ L 358, 18.12.1986.
(2) OJ L 262, 27.9.1976.
(3) OJ L 151, 23.6.1993.

(1999/C 135/014)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1990/98

by Mary Banotti (PPE) to the Commission

(30 June 1998)

Subject: Measures in favour of the family and children

Following the judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Commission in Case C-106/96 (12 May
1998), what action is the Commission taking, or does it propose to take, to ensure the implementation of
the projects to be funded from Item B3-4108: Measures in favour of the family and children?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(6 October 1998)

The Commission has decided to release part of the appropriations for item B3-4108 − Measures in favour
of the family and children − for 1998. Commitments totalling ECU 810 000 have been entered into to date.
Other projects totalling ECU 2,19 million could still be financed in the context of the production of a
report on population and of the execution of projects accepted by the Commission before 10 June 1998, for
which certain expectations have been created.

The possibility of financing these measures in future will be reviewed in the context of the interinstitu-
tional agreement on the legal bases and amendments introduced by the Amsterdam Treaty.

(1999/C 135/015)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2017/98

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(30 June 1998)

Subject: Genetic engineering in organic foodstuffs

In the USA there has been a debate in recent months on a draft law from the USDA laying down rules
governing the manufacture of organically farmed foodstuffs (USDA National Organic Program Proposal
Rule). The USDA proposal allowed the use of genetic engineering in products derived from organic
farming. It breached EU standards on 27 counts and the danger existed through the WTO, that genetically