WRITTEN QUESTION E-1142/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. White Paper on Food Safety and the European Food Authority.
Date: 2000-04-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: animal feedingstuffs, drafting of EU law, food safety

C 53 E/82

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.2.2001

Proposals are made for creating a general framework in areas where no specific harmonised rules are
applicable (and where mutual recognition currently applies).

Will the Commission propose new horizontal
mutual recognition of products, despite the intensive and time-consuming procedures?

legislation? If not, is existing legislation satisfactory for

(2001/C 53 E/101)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1142/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(11 April 2000)

Subject: White Paper on Food Safety and the European Food Authority

The White Paper on Food Safety (COM(1999) 719 final) was published in January 2000. Chapter 4 is
concerned with establishing a European Food Authority (EFA). Chapter 5 considers legislation on food
safety.

The principles of food safety must also apply to animal feed (section 69). Incidents in recent years justify
regarding the animal feed sector as part of the food chain. The raw materials for producing animal feed,
including animal by-products, need to be clearly defined.

A list of permitted raw materials is preferable, but the procedure this requires is complex and time-
consuming.
In the short term, accordingly, the negative list is to be extended. The Commission is
committed to drawing up a positive list in the medium term. Legislation will be amended in such a way
that cadavers and condemned material may not be used in animal feed. Only material from healthy
animals may be used in animal feed.

Has the procedure for drawing up a positive list already started? If not, when will the Commission

1.
start the procedure?

2. What procedures does the Commission follow, or will it follow, in drawing up the positive list?

(2001/C 53 E/102)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1143/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(11 April 2000)

Subject: White Paper on Food Safety and the European Food Authority

The White Paper on Food Safety (COM(1999) 719 final) was published in January 2000. Chapter 4 is
concerned with establishing a European Food Authority (EFA). Chapter 5 considers legislation on food
safety.

A clear distinction is needed between the different groups of products used in animal feed. Grey areas are
undesirable. In the long term no antibiotics may be used as growth promoters in the EU if they are used as
medicines for humans and animals.

In contrast to other antibiotics, can antibiotics which are not used for therapeutic purposes for

1.
humans and animals be used in animal feed?

2. Will the Commission carry out, or arrange to be carried out, additional research into the risk of
using antibiotics in animal feed?

3. Will the Commission seek at international level to harmonise the rules on antibiotics in view of the
effect they have in distorting competition? If not, what policy will the Commission pursue if European
producers experience disadvantages because they are not allowed to used certain products?