WRITTEN QUESTION E-3794/00 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission. SIDS research project.
Date: 2000-12-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, early childhood, infant mortality, public health, scientific research

C 187 E/52

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.7.2001

At that meeting an opinion was adopted on:

(cid:129) the scientific basis for import bans proposed by three Member States with regard to BSE risks in

France and Ireland;

(cid:129) the scientific basis for several measures proposed by France with regard to BSE risks;

(cid:129) the scientific basis for banning animal protein from the feed for all farmed animals, including pig,

poultry, fish and pet animals.

This opinion is available on the internet website http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/ssc. The safety of
French meat-on-the bone is addressed in section 2.a. The SSC agrees that some risk reduction can be
considered in France by means of the removal from human consumption of the meat-on-the-vertebrae
((cid:145)T-bone steak(cid:146)).

The Scientific Steering Committee re-assessed on 12 January 2001 the safety of the vertebral column and
in the light of the additional risk reduction measures coming into force in 2001. This
T-bone steak,
opinion is also available on the above-mentioned website under the title (cid:145)Opinion on the questions
submitted by EC-services following a request of 4 December 2000 by the EU Council of Agricultural
Ministers regarding the safety with regard to BSE of certain bovine tissues and certain animal-derived
products(cid:146).

(2001/C 187 E/056)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3794/00

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(7 December 2000)

Subject: SIDS research project

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), also called (cid:145)cot death(cid:146), and stillbirth, the unforeseen death of a foetus,
are two of the biggest problems (cid:129) from the scientific point of view and where State health services are
concerned (cid:129) that modern medicine has yet to solve.

In sudden infant death syndrome, an apparently healthy infant between a month and a year old dies out of
the blue and without warning. The condition affects 1 in 500 to 1 000 infants born and is the most
frequent cause of death in the first year of life. The unexpected death of the foetus at the final stage of
pregnancy is five times as common, despite the latest advances in maternity care. The emotional
consequences for the relatives are devastating, and medical and psychotherapeutic support entails very
substantial costs to society, without considering the untimely loss of a large number of potentially
productive individuals.

A fuller understanding of these syndromes, which occur in the perinatal and neonatal periods (cid:129) both still
shrouded in such deep mystery (cid:129) would undoubtedly lead to immense scientific and financial benefits.
There is as yet no standard systematic approach to the conditions at clinical level. Further, extremely
delicate research on a microscopic scale is accordingly required, but this could be carried out only in
highly specialised centres.

In the light of the foregoing and of the social repercussions can the Commission say whether it has made
provision in its research programmes for projects to probe into the subjects referred to above? If not,
would it be willing to support research projects focusing on the neurocardiac disorders associated with
SIDS and foetal death?

3.7.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 187 E/53

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(13 February 2001)

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is seen as a serious problem in all Member States. There is a distinct
variation in the diagnosis (identification of at risk infants) and also attribution of the causes of infant death.

With this in mind the Commission, under the Biomed 1 (1990-1994), supported a project involving
15 centres from 12 Member States. The main objective was to harmonise clinical protocols in this
network. By combining data from these centres and with analysis exploiting differences between the
Member States, the network resulted in providing data which contributed to improving the effectiveness of
child care. Additional factors considered also included clothing, bedding, heating and co-sleeping. This
project has contributed, both at national and European level, to providing guidelines for the identification
of (cid:145)at risk(cid:146) families, surveillance procedures for (cid:145)at risk(cid:146) infants and support groups for parents who have
lost an infant.

Currently, no project on this subject is being funded, however should a new application be submitted
which expands upon the existing knowledge and is innovative, it could be submitted to the quality of life
and managing of living resources programme of the Fifth framework programme for Research and
technological development (RTD), under public health research.

(2001/C 187 E/057)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3795/00

by Armando Cossutta (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(7 December 2000)

Subject: Mad cow disease and animal meal in Italy

On 16 November 2000 the Turin Public Prosecutor, Mr Guariniello, charged a Turin-based firm on the
grounds that it had slaughtered cattle posing a high risk from the point of view of BSE and consequently
circumvented the ban on the sale of meat from such animals. This practice seems fairly widespread not
least because it is apparently easy to tamper with barn books and the ban on using animal meal as cattle
feed does not apply throughout the Union. The fact is that it is perfectly possible for dangerous meat to be
sold and hence dished up on the table.

Can the Commission therefore say:

1. whether it has been informed by the Italian authorities of the facts set out above and what steps it has
taken or will take to protect citizens from the movement of dangerous foodstuffs in the Union;

2. what practical measures it has taken or will take to substantially reduce the risk that contaminated

meat might find its way on to the market;

3. whether it does not consider that the legislation on farm animal feed is an issue that needs to be dealt
with and finally resolved as a matter of the utmost urgency so as to enable the public to benefit from
wholesome foodstuffs;

4. whether it does not think it odd that the use of animal meal was permitted in France until a few days
ago but has been prohibited in Italy for several years, well before the first cases of mad cow disease
were discovered in the United Kingdom?