WRITTEN QUESTION E-2749/01 by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Antibiotics in animal feed.
Date: 2001-10-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European standard, Sweden, animal nutrition, antibiotic, application of EU law, drafting of EU law, public health

18.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 93 E/185

(2002/C 93 E/220)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2749/01

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(9 October 2001)

Subject: Antibiotics in animal feed

According to the Accession Treaty Sweden was entitled to maintain its ban on the use of antibiotics,
chemotherapy products, coccidiostats and growth promoters in foodstuffs until 31 December 1998. The
EU is now reappraising certain special risk antibiotics and all substances in this field are to be reappraised
by 1 October 2003. Just before the end of 1998 the Commission decided that four types of antibiotics
should be banned in animal feed. Sweden however has a ban a further four types of antibiotics and
therefore invoked the safeguard clause on the protection of human or animal health in Council Directive
70/524/EEC (1) concerning additives in feedingstuffs. Sweden forwarded the documentation to the
Commission for assessment.

What was the result of that assessment?

(1) OJ L 270, 14.12.1970, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(20 November 2001)

Acting in compliance with Article 11 (2) of Council Directive 70/524/EEC of 23 November 1970
concerning additives in feeding-stuffs (1) the Commission examined the grounds provided by Sweden and
consulted the Member States within the Standing Committee for Feedingstuffs and the Scientific
Committee for animal nutrition.

The evaluation by the Scientific Committee for animal nutrition was meanwhile overshadowed by the
general report on antimicrobial resistance adopted in June 1999 by the Scientific Steering Committee. The
report recommended the phasing out and final abolition of the growth promoting use of antibiotics. The
Commission considered it necessary to amend Directive 70/524/EEC acting thus in compliance with
Article 11(3) of the Directive. This action is part of the Commission White paper on food safety.

Currently a draft proposal on feed additives is being prepared for Commission adoption by the beginning
of 2002. The proposal will provide, inter alia, for the phasing out of all antibiotics for use as growth
promoters in the Community.

(1) OJ L 270, 14.12.1970, as amended by Council Directive 1999/20/EC of 22 March 1999, OJ L 80, 25.3.1999.

(2002/C 93 E/221)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2751/01

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(9 October 2001)

Subject: Food irradiation

On 21 May 1997 the Member States agreed to approve the irradiation of foodstuffs. The Swedish
Government opposed the proposal, but had to be content with a provision that all irradiated food had to
be labelled as such. At the time only spices were approved for irradiation in Sweden. The Council decision
meant that certain other foodstuffs might be irradiated if it was considered appropriate on technical,
commercial or other grounds. The foodstuffs then authorised for irradiation were dried aromatic herbs,
vegetable seasonings and all other species.