WRITTEN QUESTION E-1125/00 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: European Food Safety Authority, interinstitutional relations (EU), scientific committee (EU)

13.2.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 46 E/133

is the subject of wide-ranging discussions in which the Commission is making the case for a broad
interpretation of the concept which includes aspects of ethics, economics, health, animal welfare and the
environment, whereas other countries want to restrict these legitimate factors to good veterinary or
agricultural practices and to sampling and analytical methods. The discussion has gained a higher profile in
connection with the use of bovine somatotropin, which the Community banned because of its negative
effects on the health and welfare of dairy cows. The Community opposes the approval of this hormone by
Codex Alimentarius, citing inter alia the aforementioned other legitimate factors.

Transparency in the decision-making process is not simply a matter of the scientific basis used by the
legislator. Clearly it is essential that consumers should be informed in a clear and comprehensible manner
of the scientific opinions on which the decisions have been based. However, the considerations taken into
account by the decision-makers, particularly the evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of the
various risk management schemes in terms of total cost for society, must also be clearly explained and the
final decision fully justified.
Justice has ruled on several occasions that
the Court of
considerations relating to the protection of human health must take priority over all economic considera-
tions.

In any case,

(2001/C 46 E/151)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1125/00

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 Commission says that scientific cooperation needs to be enhanced and coordinated with the work
programme of the Scientific Committees. Hitherto there has been not much funding for this and there
have often been delays in the programmes that have been implemented (section 20).

How does the Commission intend to enhance scientific cooperation and speed up procedures? What
proposals have already been formulated in this respect?

(2001/C 46 E/152)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1133/00

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.

Many EU Member States have made massive cutbacks in the public funding of scientific research in recent
decades. As a result, scientists are partially dependent on industry for funding of their research. This
position of dependence can impair the credibility of researchers and the advice which they give
(section 41).

1.

In what way will the Commission guarantee the independence of European scientists?

2.
Does the Commission accept the proposal to establish a ceiling on the private funding of scientific
research? If so, in what way will the Commission set the maximum and minimum levels of private and
public funding, respectively? If not, does the Commission believe that private funding has no effect on the
independence of scientist?