WRITTEN QUESTION E-0489/03 by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Registration of the DNA of new-born babies.
Date: 2003-02-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: DNA, Italy, action programme, data collection, early childhood, health policy, medical data, personal data, protection of privacy

14.8.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 192 E/193

The Commission requires that Ewglinet systematically informs the national authorities whose
4. and 5.
responsibility it is to take action. Following a strict procedure Ewglinet also posts names of hotels on the
web that is open to the general public,
including tour operators. If other Community actions were
necessary this would be included in the framework of the Community Network on communicable diseases.

(1) OJ C 137 E, 12.6.2003, p. 171.
(2) Council Directive 98/83/EC of 3 November 1998 on the quality of water intended for human consumption (cid:1)

OJ L 330, 5.12.1998.
(3) http://www.ewgli.org/.

(2003/C 192 E/232)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0489/03

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(21 February 2003)

Subject: Registration of the DNA of new-born babies

Calls are currently being made in Italy for the example set by the United Kingdom, which has been
registering the DNA of new-born babies for two years now, to be followed in that country. On the one
hand, it is claimed that such registration will help scientific research into unknown diseases and, on the
other, that it could, in the view of the Commandant of the Police Forensic Science Unit, result in a 20 %
increase in the crime clear-up rate.

To what extent are surveys being carried out by the Commission in this field which show the advantages
of such measures? Are the findings of any such surveys available? If so, what does the Commission intend
to do about the implementation thereof in law?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(8 April 2003)

The Community action programme on public health 2003-2008 does not include studies on testing
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) for new-born babies.
It does however include activities on sexual and
reproductive health, on health monitoring, and on rare diseases, which while not corresponding to DNA
testing, may have some relevance. The legal basis of Article 152 of the Treaty on which the public health
programme is based, directs this programme towards improving public health, preventing human diseases
and disorders and obviating sources of danger to health with a view to combating morbidity and
premature mortality, while taking gender and age into consideration. To fulfill this aim, actions should be
guided by the need to increase life expectancy without disability or sickness, promote quality of life and
minimise the economic and social consequences of ill health. A call for proposals has recently been
published for projects to be supported under this programme.

(2003/C 192 E/233)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0497/03

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(21 February 2003)

Subject: Anabolic drugs and children’s health

In certain Italian cities (Milan and Turin in particular) there has been an abnormal increase in the number
of cases of early puberty, a condition which mainly affects children aged between four and six and (in
certain cases reported in the press) even babies just a few months old. It is possible that the increase is
linked to the consumption of baby foods or meat derived from animals which have been treated with
anabolic drugs (even though such a link is not scientifically proven), since the problem has arisen only in
the last few years.