WRITTEN QUESTION E-0046/01 by Ursula Schleicher (PPE-DE) to the Commission. L-cysteine from human hair.
Date: 2001-01-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: analytical chemistry, approximation of laws, cosmetic product, cytology, ethics, health risk, technological change

C 187 E/168

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.7.2001

(2001/C 187 E/179)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0045/01

by Christos Zacharakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Kidnapping of a Greek Cypriot by Turkish Cypriots

(16 January 2001)

On 13 December the Greek Cypriot building contractor, Mr Panikos Tziakourmas, was kidnapped while
on the territory of the British bases on Cyprus. According to the report by the police of the British bases in
Cyprus, he was seized by a group of unknown Turkish Cypriot men and then taken by force to the
Turkish-occupied territory and abandoned, and one and a half kilos of cannabis was left next to him.
Immediately after he was abandoned, the so-called Turkish Cypriot police arrived on the scene and arrested
him for possession of drugs. Mr Tziakourmas has a spotless record and has employed Turkish Cypriot
workers over the last decade.

Given that the kidnapping and illegal detention of Mr P. Tziakourmas are acts of terrorism and hostage-
taking, and as such a violation of international law and of the European Convention on Human Rights,
and given also the recent commitments made by Turkey to the European Union regarding democratisation
and respect for human rights, the acquis communautaire and the principles of the rule of law, will the
Commission say;

1. What measures does it intend to take to exert pressure on Turkey to release Mr P. Tziakourmas

forthwith?

2. What effect will the this contentious action have on Turkey(cid:146)s bid to join the European Union and the

funding the EU is due to provide to facilitate Turkish accession?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(16 February 2001)

The Commission is aware of the circumstances concerning the detention of the Greek Cypriot building
contractor Mr Panikos Tziakourmas on 13 December 2000. It appears that Mr Tziakourmas was abducted
from the territory of the Eastern British Sovereign Base Area. As a result, the British Government has
raised this incident with the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community and with the authorities in Ankara.
The Commission will continue to monitor the situation closely.

The criteria for membership agreed by the Copenhagen European Council in 1993 include the guarantee-
ing of the rule of law and of human rights. In this context Turkey(cid:146)s fulfilment of its obligations as
a member of the Council of Europe is an important factor. The Commission monitors respect of these
commitments by all candidate countries and regularly reports to the Parliament and to the Member States
on developments in these areas.

(2001/C 187 E/180)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0046/01

by Ursula Schleicher (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 January 2001)

Subject: L-cysteine from human hair

The Commission(cid:146)s answer of 28 November 2000 to my Question P-3343/00 (1) states that it is currently
looking into whether a Commission Directive to amend No 416 of Annex II (a proposal for which is
given) by adapting Directive 76/768/EEC (2)
to the
Commission for the detailed answer. Unfortunately, no answer was given to my first question, which was
as follows:
in its
consideration of this derogation?(cid:146)

(cid:145)Did the Commission take ethical aspects as well as scientific ones into account

to technical progress is feasible.

I am grateful

3.7.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 187 E/169

In the light of the Commission(cid:146)s answer, I would reformulate this question as follows:

(cid:129) does the Commission take ethical aspects into account in its consideration of whether the existing

directive can be modified?

(cid:129) one reason for the existing ban on producing L-cysteine from human hair was the risk of transmitting

Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease and certain virus diseases.

(cid:129) in the light of the most recent findings on BSE and the uncertainty as to how Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease

is transmitted, does the Commission really think it is responsible to water down the ban?

(1) OJ C 136 E, 8.5.2001, p. 224.
(2) OJ L 262, 27.9.1976, p. 169.

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(19 March 2001)

As stated in Council Directive 76/768/EEC, of 27 July 1976 on the approximation of the laws of the
Member States relating to cosmetic products, the Cosmetics Directive, the pursuit of the safeguarding of
public health must inspire the Community legislation in the cosmetic sector. This objective must be
attained by means which also take into account economic and technological requirements. Technical
progress necessitates rapid adaptation of the technical provisions of the Directive ensuring that only safe
cosmetic products are put on the market. To this end, the Scientific Committee on Cosmetic Products and
Non-Food Products (SCCNFP) is mandated to give opinions on consumer health and safety issues in the
field of cosmetics, based on scientific data, while taking into account ethical considerations such as the use
of human volunteers for testing purposes.

Therefore, when proposing its technical adaptation of the Directive, the Commission takes into account
the scientific as well as the ethical aspects considered by the SCCNFP in its opinions.

The risk assessment of amino acids such as L-cysteine obtained by hydrolysis of human hair carried out by
the SCCNFP and the Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) has shown that such amino acids are safe.

This is based on the following facts:

(cid:129) at present prions associated with transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) have not been

detected in hair;

(cid:129) cosmetic uses of these hydrolysates are for topical application only and there is no evidence indicating

that TSE may be transmitted by topical application;

(cid:129) the very rigorous procedure leading to an absence of peptides may guarantee the exclusion of the

responsible prion;

(cid:129) by their nature amino acids cannot transmit TSE.

In conclusion the current scientific knowledge fully supports the modification of entry 416 of Annex II of
the Cosmetics Directive.

(2001/C 187 E/181)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0050/01

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(22 January 2001)

Subject: Common Foreign and Security Policy and the NMD initiative

The President of the United States, George W. Bush, is a great supporter of the National Missile Defense
(NMD) shield.