WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3679/98 by Mihail PAPAYANNAKIS Hemp textile products in Europe
Date: 1998-12-07
Institutions: European Parliament, PAPAYANNAKIS
Subjects: EU production, Greece, complaint to the Commission, drug addiction, exchange of information, hemp, import restriction, manufactured goods, trade restriction

C 325/22

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

12.11.1999

The European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies, which was given the task under Article 7 of
Directive 98/44/EC of evaluating all the ethical aspects of biotechnology,
issued Opinion No 12 on
23 November 1998 concerning the ethical aspects of research involving the use of human embryos in the
context of the fifth research framework programme. Basically the Group stressed that respect of the pluralism
of cultures and ethical approaches in Europe, which had led to an extreme diversity of national regulations,
meant that the granting of EU financial aid for embryo research in countries where it was allowed could not be
totally ruled out. However, the Group said that observance of pluralism did not mean there should be no
restrictions. It was therefore important to make the financing of such research subject to the observance of
strict legal and ethical conditions, particularly regarding the prior agreement of any ethical committees and
observance of the fundamental ethical principles common throughout Europe, such as the respect of human
life from its beginnings and the need to obtain the consent of the women or couples who produced the
embryos that might be used for research.

Finally, the Commission wishes to stress that if the patent system comes up against a difficult question
concerning the patentability of human embryo tissue or the methods concerning it, the Commission will
report on it in the annual reports on the development and implications of patent law which it has to submit to
the Parliament and the Council as of 30 July 2000.

(1) OJ L 213, 30.7.1998.

(1999/C 325/025)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3679/98

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Hemp textile products in Europe

(7 December 1998)

The Greek police has recently begun to take action against many business selling clothing and other products
made from hemp (cannabis sativa), which are generally imported from other EU Member States where trade in
these products is legal and not subject to sanctions.

Can the Commission answer the following:

1. Are there any grounds for suspecting that these products could in any way lead to increased drugs use or

drugs dependence in the EU?

2.

3.

If so, what steps will the Commission take to prohibit trade in these products in Germany, Denmark, the
UK and other EU Member States?

If not, what steps will it take to remove obstacles to trade in this these products in Greece? Could it provide
aid for hemp textile production in Greece?

(1999/C 325/026)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4095/98

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(14 January 1999)

Subject: Hemp products in Europe

The Greek police recently prosecuted a large number of shops selling clothes and other products manufactured
using hemp (Cannabis sativa) as the raw material. These products were mostly imported from other EU
countries where they are marketed legally and not subject to prosecution.

Will the Commission say:

1. Does the EU have any information to support the suspicion that these products could in any way lead to

an increase in the consumption of, or addiction to, drugs?