WRITTEN QUESTION E-3088/01 by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Stephen Hawking's concern that the human race will die out as a result of accidents in biological experiments in the area of genetic engineering.
Date: 2001-11-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU control, environmental protection, genetic engineering, health policy, project evaluation, research policy, scientific committee (EU), scientific research

C 147 E/94

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.6.2002

In December 2000, the French magazine ‘Expansion’ published extracts from transcriptions of messages
intercepted by the police which lead inevitably to the conclusion that those responsible for adulterating the
butter were perfectly well aware of the health risks involved. A witness claimed that the product, unlike
other mixtures, had a stinging taste in the mouth, smelt like glycerine and, when a drop of it fell on his
hand, burned his skin.

According to information issued by the Italian Public Prosecutor’s Office on 20 March 2001, not only
were chemical substances used for the production of the adulterated butter but also large quantities of fats
from rendering plants, produced from cattle brains, bones and internal organs,
in other words from
materials which might very well contain BSE pathogens. Nonetheless, on 23 May 2001, in its Annual
Report for 2000 on the Fight Against Fraud, the Commission claimed that, on the basis of analyses of the
seized goods, the experts had, to date, not established any direct hazard for the [sic] consumers’ health.

In response to my request (set out in Written Question P-2535/01 (1)) that the Commission publish the
names and indicate the official positions of the experts it consulted, the Commission simply recommended
that I should approach the national judicial authorities.

Must we conclude from that answer that the Commission does not even know the names and official
positions of the experts it consulted?

Can the Commission forward to me copies of the conclusions of the national authorities to which it
referred in its answer?

(1) See page 27.

Answer given by Mrs Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(23 November 2001)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to her Written Question P-2535/01.

(2002/C 147 E/100)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3088/01

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(13 November 2001)

Subject: Stephen Hawking’s concern that the human race will die out as a result of accidents in biological

experiments in the area of genetic engineering

1.
Is the Commission aware of the statements made by the well-known British scientist, Professor
Stephen Hawking of Cambridge, reported in the Daily Telegraph on 16 October 2001, in which he says
that he does not expect the human race to survive on earth until the year 3000 because of the likelihood
of biological accidents, which could destroy all life on earth and that he therefore sees the human race’s
sole chance of survival lying in its ability to spread to other planets that cannot be under threat at the
same time?

2. What is the Commission’s view of the fact that Professor Hawking is primarily concerned about
genetic engineering which, unlike other dangerous processes, can be done in a small laboratory that is not
regulated so that a virus can be created without warning and wipe us out?

Do Professor Hawking’s statements prompt the Commission to tighten up safety measures, and their

3.
enforcement, in the sphere of genetic research by:

(a) authorising research in this sphere only under strict government regulation, where society is fully

aware of the aims, methods, interests and funding of the researchers;

(b) not authorising any research in this area by organisations with commercial interests that have an

interest in the results being applied rapidly, without due care or even prematurely;

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 147 E/95

(c)

strict isolation of material produced by such experiments from all other forms of life;

(d) applying the results only once all the consequences of such applications in terms of changes in or the
eradication of other life forms are scientifically known and the public has been informed of them by
the authorities?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(18 January 2002)

The Commission is aware of the declarations made by Stephen Hawking. The Commission’s policy is to
base its support for scientific research on institutional systems involving recognised expertise, controlled by
scientific peers, and compatible with the principles of modern governance.

Public and private sector research involving genetically engineered crops is subject to Council Directive
90/219/EEC of 23 April 1990 on the contained use of genetically modified micro-organisms (1) and
Council Directive 90/220/EEC of 23 April 1990 on the deliberate release into the environment of
genetically modified organisms (1) (now amended as Directive 2001/18/EC of the Parliament and of the
Council of 12 March 2001 (2)). European research projects must therefore comply with the relevant
European safety legislation as implemented by the Member States. These Directives require a science-based
risk assessment to be carried out prior to consent being given by a Competent Authority as well as rules
for informing the public. The safety record of genetic engineering has, to date, been good and there is no
evidence to suggest that the technique is inherently dangerous. As the Honourable Member will be aware,
some 50 million hectares of genetically engineered crops were grown worldwide in 2001 (0,03 % of world
production from the Community), with no reported evidence of adverse effects on human health or the
environment.

When evaluating eligible research projects the Commission makes sure the following conditions are met:

E Potential safety implications of the project related to the methods, the objectives and the potential
fundamental safety issues of good

applications must be clearly indicated. Projects must respect
laboratory practices and of general practices involving and handling biological agents;

E Awareness of the applicant of all relevant national and international

laws, conventions, advice,
guidelines and codes of conduct must be shown. Where appropriate, the explicit approval of local and
national safety committees must be mentioned;

E If the project involves the use or the release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), the applicant

must respect the European regulatory framework as indicated above;

E When relevant, applicants are required to provide all information necessary for the detailed evaluation
of the ecological impact of their studies and for the assessment of technological risk, and, once a
project proposal is selected, to seek, where necessary, approval from the responsible authorities. In the
case of a possible ecological
the accuracy of the description of potential risks and of
provisions taken to deal with them will be an important element in the assessment of the proposal.

impact,

Projects are subject to auditing, and to ex-post evaluations. Where the contract provisions (relating, for
example, to safety) are not fulfilled, the Commission has the right to terminate the contract.

With regards to human genetics research, there is no Community competence to regulate in this field,
except for the decision on adopting the four-yearly Community Framework Programme for Research and
Development which is subject to a framework of ethical rules co-decided by the Parliament and the
Council.

(1) OJ L 117, 8.5.1990.
(2) OJ L 106, 17.4.2001.