WRITTEN QUESTION E-0497/03 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission. Anabolic drugs and children's health.
Date: 2003-02-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Italy, beef, child, food safety, hormone, medical research, medicinal product, public health, reproductive health

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.

C 192 E/194

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

14.8.2003

Has research been carried out in other EU countries as well in order to ascertain the extent and the

1.
significance of this disturbing phenomenon?

2.
Have appropriate studies been launched with a view to establishing that such cases cannot be
attributed to the consumption of baby foods or meat derived from animals which have been treated with
anabolic drugs?

3.

If they have, could the results of those studies be made known?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(28 March 2003)

The Commission is aware of cases of premature development of sexual organs in infants observed in the
Italian Piedmont region. The Italian authorities have confirmed that the judicial authorities are carrying out
thorough investigations, but so far no concrete conclusion on the source of the problem can be drawn.

In 1998, the Commission initiated 17 specific studies to address certain gaps in research on the potential
risks to human health from hormone residues in bovine meat and meat products. One of these was a
retrospective study on long term effects on children of exposure to estrogen-contaminated meat. It was
published under the title ‘Accidental gynecomastia in children’ in the Acta Pathologica, Microbiologica et
Immunologica Scandinavica (1).

The Scientific Committee on Veterinary Measures relating to Public Health (SCVPH) has recently reviewed
all 17 studies. A list of the studies and the latest opinion of the SCVPH are available on the Internet (2).
Unfortunately, the above-mentioned study does not provide conclusive results.

For this reason, topic No 45 entitled ‘Environmental factors influencing puberty onset’ has been included
in the Commission’s research Work programme (Priority 5: Food Quality and Safety) for 2004 as an
indicative topic (3).

(1) APMIS 109- Suppl 103: S203-9 2001.
(2) http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/him/him_index_en.html.
(3) http://fp6.cordis.lu/fp6/call_details.cfm?CALL_ID=16.

(2003/C 192 E/234)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0508/03

by Laura González Álvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Protection of animals during transport in Spain

(24 February 2003)

In 2000 and most recently in April last year the Commission’s Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) went to
Spain to inspect a number of meat markets and slaughterhouses. The inspections revealed general animal
welfare problems and imperfections as regards the transport of animals.

Can the Commission confirm whether it has yet taken any measures to remedy the situation? Is Spain still
failing to comply with Directive 91/628/EEC (1)?

(1) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991, p. 17.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(25 March 2003)

Following the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) mission in April 2002,
the Spanish Ministry of
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food provided written guarantees to the effect that it was addressing the lack of
legal basis to sanction transport-related infringements and was taking certain other measures to improve
the situation, notably concerning the authorisation of transporters, the checking of vehicles and the fitness