WRITTEN QUESTION P-1770/01 by Mary Banotti (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Pure antibiotic powder - publication of research results.
Date: 2001-06-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: antibiotic, dissemination of information, health policy, pharmaceutical industry, research results

C 340 E/244

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.12.2001

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(29 June 2001)

the human rights violation against Dimitri
The Commission is trying to obtain information about
Meljnitsenko, the conscientious objector, through the Member States(cid:146) embassies represented in Ashgabat
and the Organisation for Security Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) mission in Turkmenistan.

Dimitri Meljnitsenko(cid:146)s case is not the only one of its kind. Young Turkmen must complete two years
compulsory military service, during which time they must swear an oath of allegiance to the President.
Since Turkmen legislation does not recognise conscientious objection, a number of young people,
particularly Christians have been arrested for refusing to complete the period of military service and swear
the oath.

The Commission raises these issues at each meeting with the Turkmen authorities in order to ensure
Turkmenistan keeps its promise to respect human rights and its international commitments. It has also
supported the many steps taken by the OSCE regarding the rights of minorities and religious freedom
within the framework of the European Union Presidency.

(2001/C 340 E/281)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1770/01

by Mary Banotti (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 June 2001)

Subject: Pure antibiotic powder (cid:129) publication of research results

Given that at present most pharmaceutical companies only make pure antibiotic powder available to
researchers on the written undertaking that the researcher will not publish research results without prior
authorisation from the company and given the importance of research into the whole field of antibiotic
resistance, will the Commission consider drawing up rules of good practice whereby researchers may be
able to publish their results after a set period, perhaps 6 to 12 months, without further consultation with
the pharmaceutical companies?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(10 July 2001)

The issue of antimicrobial resistance forms an inherent part of the Community(cid:146)s health strategy and
comprises actions in all the relevant sectors, public health, veterinary and phytosanitary. The Commission
has adopted on 20 June 2001 a communication setting out a Community strategy against antimicrobial
resistance from this multisectoral perspective (1).

With respect to the specific question on access to antibiotic powder for researchers, and having contacted
several companies who may be concerned, the Commission understands that it is standard practice for
pharmaceutical companies who supply antibiotic powder free of charge to researchers to request
undertakings from these researchers that the research is legitimate and appropriate and to request sight
of the results in advance of publication. The Commission is not aware that, in practice, publication of the
results of such research is restricted. The Commission considers that
in which the
pharmaceutical industry supplies antibiotic material for academic research is, in general, appropriate, but
is not in a position to comment on individual contractual arrangements between a specific company and
a specific academic institution. The Commission is willing to address the question of the need for good
practice guidelines with the appropriate associations representing the European pharmaceutical industry.

the manner

(1) COM(2001) 333 final.