WRITTEN QUESTION E-2148/99 by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission. Scientific Committee for Food.
Date: 1999-11-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: ethics, human nutrition, operation of the Institutions, rules of procedure, scientific committee (EU), scientific profession

20.6.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 170 E/147

(2000/C 170 E/178)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2137/99

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(24 November 1999)

Subject: Ban on BADGE and BFDGE used as paints for tins

The Belgian federation has recently withdrawn from sale tins of sardines and tuna because of the possibly
harmful effect of the chemical paint used for coating the tins.

Analyses conducted by the consumer organisation Test-Aankoop show that 50-65 % of the food in the tins
investigated had been polluted with the chemical substances BADGE (biphenol-A-dyglycidylether) and
BFDGE (biphenol-F-dyglycidylether).

BADGE is used as the innermost coating in tins. BFDGE is related to BADGE but may not be used on
substances which come into contract with food. Nevertheless, Test-Aankoop found traces of BFDGE in
65 % of the tins analysed.

Given that imports of tins of sardines and tuna are not confined to the Belgian federation:

1.

2.

Is the Commission aware of similar BADGE and/or BFDGE problems in the other Member States of
the European Union? If so, what action has been taken to remove contaminated food from shops? If
not, will the Commission request Member States to carry out careful checks on the presence of
BADGE and/or BFDGE in tinned food?

Is the Commission drafting a directive banning BADGE and BFDGE as innermost coating for tins? If
so, what is the main thrust of this directive? If not, is the Commission prepared to issue a ban on the
use of BADGE and BFDGE as coating layers for tins containing food, in the light of the carcinogenic
effect of the two substances?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(2 December 1999)

The Commission is conducting a detailed investigation of the problem raised by the Honourable Member
and will inform him of the outcome as soon as possible.

(2000/C 170 E/179)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2148/99

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(24 November 1999)

Subject: Scientific Committee for Food

What is the process by which annual declarations of interest of past and current members of the Scientific
Committee for Food are sought, submitted and published?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(16 December 1999)

The independence of every member of a scientific committee is one of the three fundamental principles on
which the work of the new scientific committees is based, namely: scientific excellence, independence of
the members and transparency of the work undertaken.

C 170 E/148

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.6.2000

Article 6(1) of the Commission Decision 97/0579/EC of 23 July 1997 setting up scientific committees in
the field of consumer health and food safety (1) stipulates that the members of the committees (cid:145)shall act
independently of all external influence(cid:146). In order to ensure such independence, members are obliged to
make three separate declarations of all
to their
independence: a declaration of interest as part of the original expression of interest (application) to
become a member of a scientific committee; an annual declaration of interest, and a declaration of any
particular interest which could be regarded as prejudicial to the expert(cid:146)s independence in respect of an item
on the agenda of a meeting of his or her committee.

their interests that could be considered prejudicial

The question of the Honourable Member concerns the annual declarations of interest of past and current
members of the scientific committee on food.

Article 6 paragraph 2 of the above mentioned Decision stipulates that each member of a scientific
committee is required to inform (cid:145)each year the Commission of all the interests which could be considered
prejudicial to their independence(cid:146). This general rule applies to all nine scientific committees. Nevertheless,
each committee has adopted its own rules of procedure. The rules of procedure of the scientific committee
on food, adopted on 17 September 1998, stipulate that:
inform the
Commission in writing of any interest which could be regarded as prejudicial to their independence.
Interest may be of a direct or indirect financial nature or in some cases concern ethical matters(cid:146).

(cid:145)Each year, the members shall

It has to be emphasised that the scientific committees adopt their internal rules of procedure with
complete independence.

The members of the scientific committee on food submitted their declarations for the first time after the
adoption of the rules of procedure and for the second time in April 1999.

The annual statements are not automatically accessible to the public. As they contain personal information,
the declarations can only be provided to third parties if the member has given his or her express
agreement. The rules of procedure contain, as an annex, a form entitled (cid:145)annual statement of members(cid:146)
interests(cid:146). The form provides for the agreement of the member to allow the declaration to be made
publicly available. On the occasion of the last annual statement, most of the members agreed that their
declarations could be accessible to the public. In these cases, the Commission can inform third parties on
request.

Regarding past members, no particular obligations concerning this matter are in force.

(1) OJ L 237, 28.8.1997.

(2000/C 170 E/180)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2155/99

by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission

(24 November 1999)

Subject: Savoia family exile

Since 1946 the Savoia family, who until then had reigned over Italy, have been living in exile. This exile
seems absurd, unjustified and, furthermore, in breach of international human rights conventions.

In the context of a united Europe with a sound democracy based on solidarity and citizens(cid:146) rights, would
the Commission state:

1. whether there are any European directives stipulating that European citizens who have not committed

any crimes are entitled to move freely within the EU;

2. whether it does not consider that the case might be referred to the European Court of Justice;

3.

its general views on the matter.