WRITTEN QUESTION E-0765/02 by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE) and Inger Schörling (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Promotion of non-animal testing.
Date: 2002-03-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: animal experimentation, chemical industry, chemical product, industrial research, protection of animals, testing

29.8.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 205 E/213

The so-called one net rule (Council Regulation (EC) No 850/98 of 30 March 1998 for the conservation of
fishery resources through technical measures for the protection of juveniles of marine organisms (1),
Chapter 1 Article 4) does not prevent the use of more than one net at the time as long as the mesh sizes of
the gears are in compliance with the conditions specified in the Regulation. This typically means that the
gears must have the same mesh size to be used at the same time. To the Commission’s knowledge this is
the case in the fisheries where more than one gear is used at the same time.

(1) OJ L 125, 27.4.1998.

(2002/C 205 E/233)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0765/02

by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE) and Inger Schörling (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(19 March 2002)

Subject: Promotion of non-animal testing

In order to achieve the overriding goal of sustainable development, the Commission has identified a
number of objectives in the White Paper on a Strategy for a future Chemicals Policy that must be met in
order to achieve sustainable development in the chemicals industry within the framework of the Single
Market. These objectives comprise the protection of human health and the environment as well as the
promotion of non-animal testing.

In that respect, the Commission stated that ‘precise knowledge on the intrinsic properties as well as on the
exposure arising as a result of a particular use and of the disposal is an indispensable prerequisite for
decision making on the safe management of chemicals’. This raises the question of how this indispensable
prerequisite can be fulfilled most effectively and in the shortest possible time, while minimising tests on
laboratory animals, also with a view to stop the ongoing uncontrolled testing of millions of tonnes of
chemicals on man and the environment at large.

Several strategies could be pursued in parallel, as inter alia addressed by the resolution of the European
Parliament (A5-0356/2001) on the future chemicals policy:

< Mandatory data-sharing between companies and countries of existing chemicals information, including

consortia-building by industry to avoid duplicate testing;

< Prohibition of the use of animal tests where alternative tests recognised by the authorities are

available, and acceleration of the development and validation of further non-animal tests;

< a step-wise non-animal testing strategy, that makes full use of computer models that predict hazards
tests for persistency and

based on chemical structure (QSAR), as well as of physico-chemical
bioaccumulation, and cascades of recognised in vitro tests;

< grouping of substances for assessment purposes;

< phase out of substances that are persistent and bioaccumulative without the additional demand for

toxicity data.

How does the Commission judge each of these strategies in terms of effectiveness of getting the necessary
data and reduction of animal testing, respectively?

Which of these strategies does the Commission intend to pursue and in which way?

C 205 E/214

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.8.2002

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(30 April 2002)

The Commission is currently preparing a legislative proposal, which will be based on the White Paper on
the ‘Strategy for a Future Chemicals Policy’ (1) and will take due account of the Parliament Resolution
(A5-0356/2001) and the conclusions of the Council.

The strategies for minimising animal testing referred to in the above Resolution are all being considered
during the preparation of the new legislation. Furthermore, the Commission has consulted extensively with
stakeholder working groups, which included representatives of animal welfare
a wide range of
organisations, Member State authorities and industry, on a range of
related to
implementation of the White Paper strategy. One such working group considered the issues related to
animal testing and its discussions are also being taken into account in the preparation of the new
legislation.

technical

issues

Once the Commission has prepared its legislative proposal, it will be submitted to Parliament and Council
under the co-decision procedure. The provisions related to animal testing can then be discussed with all
stakeholders as an important element of the wider debate on the new legislation.

(1) COM(2001) 88 final.

(2002/C 205 E/234)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0781/02

by Brian Simpson (PSE) to the Commission

(20 March 2002)

Subject: Concessionary pass for pensioners

Is the Commission considering the possibility of introducing a Euro Pensioners Pass, which would grant
various concessions for senior citizens including concessions for public transport and museum and gallery
admissions? If not, why not? If so, when does the Commission expect to come forward with proposals?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(19 April 2002)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answers to written questions E-2326/01 by
Mr Gallagher (1), E-2406/99 by Mr McCartin (2) and E-1054/99 by Mrs Billingham (3), and to the replies it
gave to oral questions H-1148/98 by Mr Andrews and H-1023/98 by Mr Evans during question time at
Parliament’s December 1998 (4) and November 1998 sessions (5).

(1) OJ C 93 E, 18.4.2002, p. 109.
(2) OJ C 93 E, 18.4.2002, p. 126.
(3) OJ C 348, 3.12.1999.
(4) Written reply, 15.12.1998.
(5) Oral reply, 17.11.1998.