WRITTEN QUESTION E-2271/99 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. The sale of pharmaceutical products on Internet.
Date: 1999-12-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: consumer protection, electronic commerce, illicit trade, medical data, medicinal product

C 219 E/136

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

1.8.2000

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(11 January 2000)

In preparing its proposal for a directive on national emission ceilings (1) the Commission performed an
extensive analysis of costs and benefits of its strategy to combat ground-level ozone (and acidification). In
the model simulations which were part of this analysis the varying natural factors influencing the ozone
formation in particular in southern Europe were fully taken into account, as well as the country-specific
costs for requisite emission control measures.

The cost-benefit analysis of the proposal showed that benefits were higher than costs for all Member States
including Greece. If one takes account of cost savings for Greece because of further emission reductions by
neighbouring third countries, as laid down in the recently signed protocol under the United Nations (UN)
Economic commission for Europe (ECE) Convention on long-range transboundary air pollution, the
surplus of benefits against costs would be even higher.

Results of a case study on the situation in Athens show that implementation of the emission ceilings
would bring tangible reductions of ozone concentrations by 2010, despite the special climatic conditions
in this area. If accompanied by additional efforts on the local level further improvements can be achieved
in terms of even lower ozone concentrations.

As part of regional programmes in the framework of the Community structural funds financial aid for
measures to control emissions of pollutants could be provided. There have been examples of financing
such measures in Greece. The Commission is currently negotiating the new Community support
framework for Greece under which funding of control measures against air pollution is considered.

(1) COM(1999) 125 final, completed by SEC(1999) 2004.

(2000/C 219 E/171)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2271/99

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: The sale of pharmaceutical products on Internet

(13 December 1999)

The availability of pharmaceutical products for sale on Internet is causing concern and raising questions
among not only the experts in the field (doctors, pharmacists) but also among consumers in general. These
concerns relate to the safe use of pharmaceutical products, the distribution of banned substances and the
compilation of data from patients(cid:146) medical files by bodies which are not authorised to do so.

Can the Commission indicate the extent to which pharmaceutical products are now being sold over the
Internet? What steps will it take to protect consumers in general and patients in particular from this
method of selling pharmaceutical products?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(10 January 2000)

According to the information available to the Commission, it is currently not possible to obtain reliable
quantitative data on the amount of medicinal products which are sold via the internet in the Community.

On all other points raised by the Honourable Member, the Commission would refer to the answer to
written question E-1852/99 by Mr Valdivielso de Cue (1) on the sale of medicinal products via Internet.

(1) OJ C 203 E, 18.7.2000, p. 69.