WRITTEN QUESTION No. 178/99 by Irene SOLTWEDEL-SCHÄFER BSE: comparison between Switzerland and the EU
Date: 1999-02-11
Institutions: European Parliament, SOLTWEDEL-SCHAEFER
Subjects: Switzerland, animal disease, cattle, epidemiology, medical diagnosis, veterinary inspection

C 325/82

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

12.11.1999

(1999/C 325/105)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0178/99

by Irene Soltwedel-Schäfer (V) to the Commission

(11 February 1999)

Subject: BSE: comparison between Switzerland and the EU

1. What is the Commission’s opinion of the face that a relatively large number of cattle in Switzerland have
been found to be infected with BSE?

2.

3.

How true is it that examinations for BSE are much less accurate in Germany than in Switzerland?

How true is it that diagnostic facilities are poorer in Germany than in Switzerland?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(17 March 1999)

1.
The Commission is aware of the elevated number of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) cases in
Switzerland. In relation to the size of the cattle population the situation is rather different from the situation in
the United Kingdom. Moreover, the number of BSE cases shows a steady decline since the peak of the epidemic
in 1995. This decline is considered to be indicative of effective eradication measures. The Commission is
sending direct to the Honourable Member and to the Parliament’s Secretariat, two tables containing
information on the current BSE incidence over the past twelve months, and on the total number of BSE
cases since 1988.

2.
Since April 1998 the transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) surveillance and monitoring
measures have been harmonized at Community level by Commission Decision 98/272/EC of 23 April 1998,
on epidemio-surveillance for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies and amending Decision 94/474/
EC (1). Most Member States, including Germany, have already reported in the framework of the standing
veterinary committee on progress made with the implementation of this Decision.

There are no indications, neither from these progress reports, nor from inspections carried out by the
Commission on the national surveillance systems, that the BSE examinations are much less accurate in
Germany than in Switzerland.

The before mentioned Decision also lays down the conditions for sampling and laboratory testing for
3.
detection of the presence of a TSE following the recommendations of the manual of standards for diagnostic
tests and vaccines of the International office of epizootics (OIE). The rapid tests for detection of BSE after
slaughter, which are currently being developed by several laboratories amongst others in Switzerland, have not
yet been accepted by the OIE. The Commission is at this moment evaluating a number of such tests but has not
yet completed this exercise.

To conclude, several alternative means to diagnose TSEs are being recommended by various laboratories
around the world. It is however, premature to draw conclusions as to the quality or accuracy of those tests.

(1) OJ L 122, 24.4.1998.

(1999/C 325/106)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0183/99

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(11 February 1999)

Subject: Authorisation/approval of genetically modified seeds

1. What is the current state of approvals of genetically modified seeds in the EU Member States?

If there are already approved seeds, does the Commission have any detailed information (e.g. lists)

2.
concerning the varieties approved, the characteristics modified, and the dates of approval?

Does the Commission know which varieties (applicant companies, stating date of approval process,

3.
scheduled end of examination) are being examined at present?