WRITTEN QUESTION E-3904/00 by Jan Mulder (ELDR) to the Commission. Use of marker vaccines in the European Union.
Date: 2000-12-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European social policy, animal disease, vaccine

C 174 E/180

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

19.6.2001

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(20 February 2001)

The Commission is still of the opinion that the 1995 code of conduct could in principle be an adequate
means to ensure that the rules of the internal market are respected. Regarding this point, the Commission
would like to refer to the reply it gave to the Honourable Member(cid:146)s Written Question E-2197/00 (1).

As a follow-up to the discussions held in Paris on 7 June 2000 and the meeting organised by the French
Conseil supØrieur d(cid:146)audiovisuel on 9 October 2000, both referred to in the question, the Member of the
Commission responsible for the Internal Market sent a letter on 11 December 2000 to Mrs Tasca, the
French Minister for Culture and Communication. This letter seeks to obtain more detailed information
from the French authorities as to the state of play concerning the steps they have committed themselves to
take.

The Commission will keep the Honourable Member informed of further developments.

(1) OJ C 89 E, 20.3.2001, p. 152.

(2001/C 174 E/192)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3904/00

by Jan Mulder (ELDR) to the Commission

(13 December 2000)

Subject: Use of marker vaccines in the European Union

It has been proved that marker vaccines can be used effectively for the fight against, and the controlled
eradication of, infectious animal diseases.

1.
Can the Commission say whether it really does intend to permit vaccination with marker vaccines if
there are outbreaks of infectious animal diseases for which vaccination is not normally permitted, for
example swine fever?

Can the Commission state for which animal diseases,

2.
for which vaccination is not normally
permitted, marker vaccines are currently available which could limit a disease spreading if there is an
outbreak?

Can the Commission state for which animal diseases an outbreak could be prevented from spreading

3.
by means of vaccination?

If the Commission intends to use the vaccination strategy referred to above, is it also considering

4.
accumulating stocks of vaccines at strategic points in the European Union?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(30 January 2001)

1.
The approach of the Commission to the potential use of marker vaccines against classical swine fever
is made clear in its proposal for a Council Directive on Community measures for the control of this
disease (1).

The results of a trial, which was supported by the Commission, have indicated the need to be very cautious
in this matter, as the use of marker vaccines might not lead to any advantage in comparison with the
conventional ones.

However,
in accordance with the Commission(cid:146)s proposal, these vaccines might be used within the
framework of the current non-vaccination policy against classical swine fever, which does not exclude
vaccination in the event of an emergency.

19.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 174 E/181

The eventual use of marker vaccines would be subject to the availability of suitable diagnostic tests, as the
ones developed so far do not reliably discriminate between vaccinated animals and the infected ones, and
to a case-by-case authorisation by the Commission to the Member State which intends to use these
vaccines, following the advice of the standing veterinary committee.

2. Marker vaccines are widely applied in the prevention of a number of animal diseases in the
Community and for some of these diseases legislation is in place in order that their use is ultimately
successful, i.e. not only the vaccinated animals are protected against the disease, but its agent is also
eradicated.

Efforts are being made by scientists and private companies to develop marker vaccines and/or associated
discriminatory tests for other animal diseases, including some of major economic importance, such as foot-
and-mouth disease and classical swine fever, for which the Community adopts a non-vaccination policy.
The Commission has also financially supported some of these efforts.

However, as shown by the trial on classical swine fever, it is necessary to be cautious, before arriving at the
conclusion that newly developed products can be successfully used.

3.
In principle, any animal diseases for which effective vaccines have been developed might be
prevented by means of vaccination. However, as with any other pharmaceutical product, vaccines may
also lead to undesirable consequences and their efficacy and safety may be jeopardised by improper use.
Before vaccines are used, both potential advantages and disadvantages must therefore be considered and
the most appropriate conditions for use must be ensured.

The Commission keeps a bank of 30 million doses of antigen for the formulation of vaccine against
4.
foot-and-mouth disease, in order that this vaccine may be rapidly available in the event of an emergency.
For safety reasons, the antigen is kept in three different places in the Community.

The Commission has also bought and kept in stock 500,000 doses of vaccine against bluetongue, that,
upon request, have recently been made available to two Member States where outbreaks of this disease
have occurred. The vaccine stock is currently being replaced.

Legal provisions are also in place, which would allow the Commission to establish stocks of vaccines
against other animal diseases, if necessary.

(1) COM(2000) 462 final.

(2001/C 174 E/193)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3909/00

by Adeline Hazan (PSE), Anneli HulthØn (PSE), Ulpu Iivari (PSE)
and Catherine Stihler (PSE) to the Council

(20 December 2000)

Subject: Alcohol awareness

There is increasing evidence that more and more people start drinking younger and younger, with specific
alcoholic drinks being targeted at the very young. Much of the advertising is directed towards young
women in particular. The evidence also indicates that this is a Europe-wide problem.

What action is the Council taking to raise awareness in the Member States of the need to address this
growing social problem?