WRITTEN QUESTION P-2798/00 by Jules Maaten (ELDR) to the Commission. WHO report on undue influence by the tobacco industry.
Date: 2000-09-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: cancer, disinformation, health policy, interest group, smoking, tobacco industry

8.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 136 E/99

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(24 October 2000)

The Commission requested in 1995 a scientific opinion on the welfare aspects of the production of foie
gras using ducks and geese. The scientific committee on animal health and animal welfare adopted a report
on the question in 1998. This report can be consulted at
the following Internet address: http://
www.europa.eu.int/comm/dg24/health/sc/scah/out17_en.html

The Community is a contracting party of the European convention on the protection of animals kept for
farming purposes (negotiated under the auspices of the Council of Europe). Two Recommendations for the
protection of ducks and geese bred for the production of foie gras were adopted in June 1999 in the
framework of the European convention. The Commission and the Member States actively participated in
the process of the drafting and adoption of these Recommendations. The scientific report above mentioned
was used as a reference for the finalisation of the two Recommendations.

The Recommendations recognise the necessity to keep the birds in social groups and prohibit the use of
the small individual cages which are currently used. This prohibition will come into effect on 31 December
2004 for new or replacement accommodation and for all accommodation on 31 December 2010 at the
latest. The Recommendations also call for further research to develop alternative techniques which do not
require force feeding for the production of foie gras. It has been agreed that until new scientific evidence
on alternative methods and their welfare aspects is available, the production of foie gras shall be carried
out only where it is current practice and then only in accordance with standards laid down in domestic
law.

In the Community, Council Directive 98/58/EC of 20 July 1998 concerning the protection of animals kept
for farming purposes (1) constitutes a legal instrument for the elaboration of future proposals in the field of
animal welfare ensuring the uniform application of the Council of Europe Convention on the same subject
in the Community.

The Directive currently addresses the welfare requirements to be applied for the protection of animals kept
for the different types of production, including the production of foie gras. If necessary, in accordance with
the provisions of Article 5 of Directive 98/58/EC, the Commission may submit to the Council further
appropriate proposals for the uniform application of the above mentioned Recommendations.

However, any such initiative could only be considered in the light of the reports of Member States to the
Council of Europe on the results obtained and measures taken in relation to the implementation of the
recommendations.

(1) OJ L 221, 8.8.1998.

(2001/C 136 E/114)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2798/00

by Jules Maaten (ELDR) to the Commission

(4 September 2000)

Subject: WHO report on undue influence by the tobacco industry

1.
On 2 August the findings of the independent Expert Committee on the Report on Tobacco Industry
Documents and the World Health Organisation (WHO) were published. These findings show that tobacco
companies fought the WHO(cid:146)s tobacco control agenda by, among other things, staging events to divert
attention from public health issues raised by tobacco use, attempting to reduce budgets for tobacco
control, pitting other UN agencies against the WHO, distorting the results of important scientific studies
on tobacco, and discrediting the WHO as an institution. Will the Commission discuss this report in its
High Level Public Health Committee (composed of Chief Medical Officers) to coordinate the Member States
reaction to the report(cid:146)s recommendations?

C 136 E/100

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.5.2001

In the light of this research conducted for the WHO, what measures has the Commission taken to
2.
ensure that paid consultants of the tobacco industry do not hold positions of influence within the
European Commission or that Commission officials have not been improperly influenced by the tobacco
industry or its representatives? What if any additional measures will be taken in the future?

3.
The EU plays a major role with regard to tobacco legislation and in representing the 15 Member
States in the talks on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) within the WHO. Does the
Commission agree that if such practices took place with regard to the WHO, it is probable that they were
undertaken with regard to the European Commission or to the EU institutions at large?

4.
Noting the severe staff and resource shortages and reductions in the Commission services dealing
with tobacco control, can the Commission provide a table showing such reductions since the first Europe
Against Cancer Programme was launched, and can the Commission guarantee that these reductions are not
due to undue influence of the tobacco industry as has been proven in the WHO?

How has the Commission made its decisions about resources allocated to tobacco control policies

5.
and what resources have been allocated since the first cancer programme to the present?

6.
Does the Commission accept, in full or in part, the view of the UK House of Commons Health Select
Committee that resources devoted to tobacco control in the European Commission are utterly derisory and
what if any measures will be taken to address this concern?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(11 October 2000)

1.
Co-ordination of the position of the Member States in matters of national competence, arising within
the framework of the World Health Organisation, is within the responsibility of the Council Presidency.
It would therefore be more appropriate for the Presidency to organise any such discussion.

2. and 3.
The Commission is not aware of any tobacco industry consultants having been employed by
the Commission in the public health field, and can assure the Honourable Member that the tobacco
industry does not have any influence over decisions on staffing in Directorate general (DG) Health and
consumer protection. Policy over the past year acutely demonstrates the Commission commitment in this
issue. Tobacco control has been a priority in the public health domain and the new draft directive has
made rapid progress through the Council and Parliament.

4. and 5.
Staff resources are allocated on the basis of priorities set down in the Commission(cid:146)s work
programme, and in the light of resources agreed by the budgetary authority. The Commission has
requested from the budgetary authority a reinforcement of overall staffing so as to meet its priorities,
one of which is DG Health and consumer protection.

Staff resources allocated to the cancer programme at present are, in addition to the head and deputy head
of unit, 1 A official, 1 B official (partially), 1 detached national expert (partially). This does represent a
reduction from the level at the beginning of the initial cancer programme, but it should be borne in mind
that this level of staffing is not abnormal for a programme of this kind and maturity. Also the unit
concerned now manages other public health programmes such as the drugs programme. As new activities
are undertaken, the allocation of staff must necessarily be adapted to reflect those developments. The
tobacco industry has not influenced the staffing allocation.

The staffing allocation for tobacco control is a function of overall staffing limits and competing
6.
priorities. The fight against tobacco consumption will remain high on the agenda and consequently the
staff resources required. The Commission hopes to have the support of the Parliament in this regard.
Tobacco control will in any event remain a priority for the Commission which will continue to ensure it
receives the resources necessary to undertake our policies in that regard.