WRITTEN QUESTION E-3008/02 by Elspeth Attwooll (ELDR) to the Commission. Foetal bovine welfare.
Date: 2002-10-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: animal experimentation, cytology, embryo and foetus, medical research, protection of animals

3.7.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 155 E/73

real opportunity to express their view on who should govern them, rather than the sham vote of the late
1960s?

If the Council has not so committed itself, on what basis has it failed to act, and will it do so now?

Reply

(20 February 2003)

1.
The Council has repeatedly underlined the importance of a strong, democratic, united and
prosperous Indonesia, and has consistently and firmly supported the territorial integrity of this country.
The EU has therefore not committed itself to supporting the international campaign to review the status of
Papua.

2.
However, the EU has on several occasions raised its grave concerns over the political, economic, and
human rights situation in Papua with the Indonesian authorities. The EU has urged the Indonesian
government to address swiftly and decisively the numerous problems in this province, to improve the
protection of the human rights and the indigenous culture of the Papuan population, and to promote the
economic and social development of the province. The EU in particular underlined the need to implement
fully the Special Autonomy Law for Papua (SALP) and to investigate human rights violations, including the
assassination of the prominent Papuan leader Theys Eluay, in order to bring the perpetrators of these
violations to justice.

3.
EU Heads of Missions in Jakarta have visited Papua in March 2002, and have held extensive talks
with government officials, NGOs, and religious and tribal leaders in order to assess the situation and to
underline the EU’s strong interest in the political and social evolution in Papua. The EU will continue to
pay close attention to the future evolution in this province, and will,
if necessary, raise the various
problems again with the government of Indonesia.

(2003/C 155 E/083)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3008/02

by Elspeth Attwooll (ELDR) to the Commission

(23 October 2002)

Subject: Foetal bovine welfare

Directive 86/609/EEC (1) regarding the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific
purposes currently excludes ‘foetal or embryonic forms’ from its scope of application. In this context, is the
Commission aware of the practice of collecting foetal bovine serum from unborn bovines during the
slaughter of the pregnant cow, which is then used to set up cell cultures? Can the Commission provide
figures to demonstrate how widespread this practice is within the individual Member States? Will the
Commission consider conducting a full revision of the aforementioned Directive and including foetal and
embryonic forms within the scope of the Directive?

(1) OJ L 358, 18.12.1986, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(28 November 2002)

The Commission is aware of the practice of collecting foetal bovine serum from unborn bovines during
the slaughter of the pregnant cows.

Foetal bovine serum is a fundamental reagent for the culture of cells and tissue, which is a very common
practice in biology, medicine and toxicology laboratories.

C 155 E/74

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.7.2003

Cells and tissue cultures are widely used as a successful alternative to laboratory animals for many research
purposes, as well as for the manufacturing of medicines produced by living cells, such as interferon, and
for the diagnosis of infectious and genetic diseases. Finally, foetal bovine serum is also used in media to
produce antigens for vaccines. However, detailed information on the collection of foetal bovine serum is
not available to the Commission.

The Commission is planning an in-depth revision of Council Directive 86/609/EEC of 24 November 1986
on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the member States regarding
the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes. The issue of foetal and
embryonic forms will be thoroughly examined during this revision. The ethical aspects related to the
practice of collecting foetal calf serum will be therefore examined by the Commission within this context.

(2003/C 155 E/084)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3025/02

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(23 October 2002)

Subject: Low hospital bed ratio in the EU

Recent reports in the media indicate that Spain had 162 608 hospital beds in 1999, equivalent to four
beds per thousand inhabitants. This is the lowest ratio in the EU and lower than the figure of 5,4 in 1980
recorded by the OECD. The ratio is even lower if we discount the number of beds which are unusable
because of works being carried out in hospitals. Hospital administration in Spain is decentralised and
measures concerning funding are therefore the responsibility of each autonomous region.

The fall in the number of hospital beds is a problem shared by all the EU countries, but the European
average is seven beds per thousand inhabitants. Is the Commission aware of this shortage of beds in
European hospitals? In view of the absence of European legislation on the subject, does the Commission
intend to promote legislation on this crucial issue?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(18 November 2002)

Under the EC Treaty,
responsibility of the Member States, not of the Community (Article 152, paragraph 5).

the organisation and delivery of health services and medical care are the

The Commission is, therefore, not in the position to promote legislation on the issue of the hospital bed
ratio in the Member States.

(2003/C 155 E/085)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3026/02

by Patricia McKenna (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(23 October 2002)

Subject: EU-Sudan relations

Would the Council give details of the current status of its dialogue with Sudan, and the purpose of it? This
should include details of the personnel involved, the structure of the dialogue, progress made and the role
of the Council.

Would it also give details of the current position and immediate and long-term objectives of the dialogue
with Sudan?