WRITTEN QUESTION E-3356/00 by Luciano Caveri (ELDR) to the Commission. French ban on the use of bovine intestines.
Date: 2000-10-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: France, agricultural waste, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, consumer protection, food safety, foodstuffs legislation, health control, market approval, meat processing industry, meat product

8.5.2001

EN

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.

C 136 E/226

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.5.2001

What scientific grounds are there for this precautionary measure, and what impact will it have on French
imports and exports of such products?

Furthermore, would the Commission not agree that, in the interests of consumer safety, action to combat
(cid:145)mad cow(cid:146) disease calls for a homogeneous approach at European or even world level?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(24 November 2000)

The French authorities have recently decided to ban the use of intestines from bovine animals of all ages in
human food or animal feed. The intestines shall be removed at the slaughterhouse and destroyed as
specified bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) risk materials.

The French measures go beyond the Community legislation in this area. According to Commission
Decision 2000/418/EC regulating the use of material presenting risks as regards transmissible spongiform
encephalopathies (1) part of the intestine (the ileum) from bovine animals over 12 months shall be removed
and destroyed in all Member States. In the United Kingdom and Portugal, the whole intestine from bovine
animals over 6 months shall be removed and destroyed.

The decision by the French authorities was based on an opinion of the French agency for food safety
(AFSSA), according to which BSE infectivity could be present in the whole intestine in bovine animals of
all ages. The opinion has been submitted for an evaluation to the scientific steering committee, which
advises the Commission in matters relating to BSE.

The Commission has also requested notification by the Member States of all national measures adopted in
relation to BSE. On the basis of a scientific assessment of these measures, the Commission will present
proposals to the Member States aimed at putting in place a coherent Community framework.

The Commission seeks a harmonised approach to rules on food safety within the Community and, as far
as possible, at world level. However, this needs to be seen in the light of differences in BSE risk in different
geographical areas.

(1) OJ L 158, 30.6.2000.

(2001/C 136 E/266)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3369/00

by Concepci(cid:243) Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 October 2000)

Subject: The European Social Fund in Catalonia

In its answer to Written Question P-2749/00 (1) on this subject the Commission refers to the precautionary
suspension of the payments referred to in Article 21 of Regulation (EEC) No 4253/88 (2), amended by
Regulation (EEC) No 2082/93 (3).

Can the Commission say which source is authorised to disseminate such information?

If the information is merely the expression of a personal opinion (cid:129) although this would mean the
Commission has seriously compromised itself (cid:129) does the Commission intend to take any steps to prevent
this kind of thing happening again in the future?

(1) OJ C 103 E, 3.4.2001.
(2) OJ L 374, 31.12.1988, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 193, 31.7.1993, p. 20.

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(22 November 2000)

The Commission answers parliamentary questions in line with its obligation under Article 197 of the EC
Treaty. Each Commission answer to a written question is adopted by the Commission itself and then
forwarded to the Parliament and to the Member of Parliament concerned. It is the Parliament which
publishes the answers under Article 44 of its rules.