WRITTEN QUESTION P-3343/00 by Ursula Schleicher (PPE-DE) to the Commission. L-cysteine from human hair.
Date: 2000-10-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: China, approximation of laws, consumer protection, cosmetic product, cytology, derogation from EU law, health control, marketing

C 136 E/224

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.5.2001

(2001/C 136 E/263)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3342/00

by Luisa Morgantini (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(18 October 2000)

Subject: Measures against coca growers in Bolivia

The situation in Bolivia between the government and small farmers who grow coca is very tense. Officially,
only 2 000 hectares of coca remain to be eradicated in Bolivia, as opposed to the 35 000 previously under
cultivation. For social reasons the producers(cid:146) associations are calling on the government to proceed rapidly
with the substitution programmes before destroying the remaining 2 000 hectares. The Catholic Church,
the Defender of the People (Ombudsman) and the Permanent Assembly on Human Rights are proposing a
deadline of one month, which has been rejected by the government on the pretext of pressure from
abroad.

Does the Commission align itself with the United States in demanding immediate eradication, or does it
present a different point of view to the Bolivian authorities, supporting the (cid:145)comisi(cid:243)n facilitadora(cid:146),
according to which the conflict should be resolved in a peaceful fashion, within a reasonable period of
time and with the small farmers being offered alternatives?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(7 November 2000)

The Commission is strongly committed to supporting alternative development programmes in Bolivia. It is
financing the following operations: € 19 million for alternative development in the main coca producing
area of Chapare in the Cochabamba region under the Praedac project (Programa de Apoyo a la Estrategia
de Desarrollo Alternativo en el Chapare), and € 11 million for economic development in impoverished
upland valleys to prevent migration to the coca-producing sectors.

The protocol on multi-annual indicative programming of Community financial and technical cooperation
for the period 2000-2006 about to be signed with the Bolivian government stipulates that around 10 % of
the available funding (between € 10 and 12 million) will be earmarked to support alternative development
projects.

The methodological approach recommended by the Commission takes the coca producers into account by
defining by mutual agreement, the social and economic support measures to put in place in return for
abandoning illegal crops. Clearly, however, the Commission(cid:146)s action in Bolivia must be in line with the
guidelines laid down by the public authorities.

The Commission is not involved in the Bolivian authorities(cid:146) eradication programmes, which are a matter of
domestic policy, nor has it made the granting of aid subject to compliance with specific timetables for
eradication.

(2001/C 136 E/264)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3343/00

by Ursula Schleicher (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(18 October 2000)

Subject: L-cysteine from human hair

L-cysteine is an amino acid used in the manufacture of various cosmetics. L-cysteine itself is produced in a
number of ways: by fermentation in Germany; by synthesis and biotransformation in Japan, using chicken
feathers in France and by hydrolysis of human hair in China. The L-cysteine made from human hair is the
cheapest.

Annex II to the cosmetics directive (76/768/EEC) (1) contains a list of substances that may not be used as
ingredients for cosmetic products, including, under number 416: cells, tissue or products of human origin.

8.5.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 136 E/225

According to my information, the Commission plans to issue a derogation authorising the manufacture of
L-cysteine from human hair.

Did the Commission take ethical aspects as well as scientific ones into account in its consideration of

1.
this derogation?

Does the Commission have information about the circumstances under which Chinese human hair is

2.
obtained?

Is production of L-cysteine from human hair envisaged in the European Community, or is the

3.
L-cysteine manufactured in this way to be imported from China?

(1) OJ L 262, 27.9.1976, p. 169.

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(28 November 2000)

The use of amino acids obtained from human hair as cosmetic ingredients was prohibited by Commission
Directive 95/34/EC of 10 July 1995 adapting to technical progress Annexes II, II, VI and VII to Council
Directive 76/768/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to cosmetic
products (1) because that
they were liable to transmit Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, human spongiform
encephalopathy and virus diseases. In its opinion adopted on 28 June 2000, the SCCNFP (Scientific
committee on cosmetic products and non-food products) has suggested a modification of entry 416 of
Annex II of Directive 76/768/EEC to allow the use of amino acids obtained by hydrolysis of human hair.
Its safety assessment is based on the current scientific knowledge, taking into account the potential risk of
transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, human spongiform encephalopathy and viral diseases through
the use of human hair to provide amino acids.

Therefore,
adapting to technical progress Directive 76/768/EEC entry 416 of Annex II as follows:

the Commission is examining the possibility to modify through a Commission directive

416.
Cells, tissues or products of human origin. However, amino acids obtained by hydrolysis of
human hair may be used provided that the following method has been used and certified by the
producer: Hydrolysis with HCl (> 20 % throughout the whole process) for at least 6 hours at 100(cid:176) C.

It should be stressed that Directive 76/768/EEC aims to ensure the free movement of cosmetic products
within the Community while pursuing also the objective of the safeguarding of public health.

Concerning the circumstances under which Chinese hair is obtained, the Commission has been informed
that the only economic source of human hair for amino-acid production is hairdressing shops. As for the
production of L-cysteine from human hair, the Commission is not aware of any brand planning to
introduce this process of manufacturing in the Community.

(1) OJ L 167, 18.7.1995.

(2001/C 136 E/265)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3356/00

by Luciano Caveri (ELDR) to the Commission

(27 October 2000)

Subject: French ban on the use of bovine intestines

It has just been reported that, as part of precautionary measures taken to combat the (cid:145)mad cow(cid:146) disease
epidemic, the French authorities have banned the use of bovine intestines in foodstuffs. This decision will
have an obvious impact on the sausage industry and does not appear to have been echoed by similar
decisions in any other EU Member States.