WRITTEN QUESTION E-0448/04 by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Research on non-human primates in Münster, Germany.
Date: 2004-02-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Germany, animal experimentation, animal welfare, protection of animals

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/791

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(5 April 2004)

The Commission believes that the exporters of German, French and Dutch peat to Italy choose the mode
of transport which in their commercial assessment is the most appropriate one. The ultimate destination of
peat
in Italy is likely to be far away from ports and any assessment, therefore, has to take into
consideration, ‘inter alia’, costs in ports, loading, unloading and transport to final destination.

The Commission has for a number of years pursued an active policy of promoting short sea shipping
which is becoming more and more a viable alternative to road transport.

Furthermore, the recent Community guidelines to State aid to maritime transport (C(2004)43) include in
their chapter 10 the possibility for the Commission to approve certain aid to short sea shipping.

Within the basic concept of users’ free choice of the transport mode, the main emphasis on promoting the
sea alternative is not put on direct legislative measures but on offering and encouraging sustainable and
safe ways for those products that can be carried by various modes, such as peat in bulk.

The main objective of the Commission’s policy is to maintain sustainability in the European transport
system now and in the future. The policy has been outlined in the Commission Communication on the
development of the Short Sea Shipping mode (1) and Programme for the promotion of this mode (2).

(1) COM(1999) 317 final.
(2) COM(2003) 155 final.

(2004/C 84 E/0888)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0448/04

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Research on non-human primates in Münster, Germany

(23 February 2004)

The Commission has stated in the past that Directive 86/609/EEC (1) does not provide sufficient controls to
safeguard the welfare of non-human primates. The Commission’s amended proposals with regard to the
6th Framework Programme for Research and Technical Development stipulated that research activities
must respect the protection of animals in accordance with Community law, and participants in research
projects must conform to current legislation and regulations in the countries where research will be carried
out.

Following a five-month investigation, the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) has alleged
the cruel treatment of non-primates by staff in the Covance animal research laboratories in Münster
Germany. Given that the Ministry for Environment in North Rhine-Westfalia has initiated a procedure to
withdraw Covance’s licence to keep and experiment on laboratory animals, will the Commission condemn
Covance for its treatment of animals and denounce the use of non-primates in research within the wider
European Union?

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

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(13 April 2004)

The use of non-human primates is among the most sensitive topics in relation to animal research. Indeed,
the Commission has been informed about the treatment of non-human primates at the Covance animal

C 84 E/792

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

in Germany. A subsequent Commission
research laboratories in Münster (in North Rhine-Westphalia)
investigation showed that the German authorities have swiftly taken appropriate action. Therefore, the
Commission currently sees no need to conduct further investigations in this matter

The Commission has initiated a 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 aim of the revision is to
strengthen the legislation in the area of animal experimentation in the EU and to ensure that the animals
still used in experiments will receive appropriate care and humane treatment. Among other things, the
revision is looking into the requirements and conditions for the authorisation of experiments, personnel
and establishments, and inspections of establishments which breed, supply or use laboratory animals.

The Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) has signalled the continued need for non-human primates in
biomedical research (1). However, the SSC also stressed that each testing proposal involving non-human
primates should be justified on a case-by-case basis.

The use of non-human primates in experiments is one of the issues that will be thoroughly reviewed
the
during the revision of Directive 86/609/EEC. To have the necessary background information,
Commission requested the Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare (Scahaw), to issue
an opinion on the welfare of non-human primates used in experiments (2). The Opinion was adopted on
17 December 2002 and is now used as a background document for the revision.

(1) The Scientific Steering Committee: ‘The need for non-human primates in biomedical research’, statement adopted
4/5 April 2002. The document is available on the Internet: http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/ssc/out253_en.pdf

(2) http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/aw/aw_scahaw_en.html

(2004/C 84 E/0889)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0450/04

by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(23 February 2004)

Subject: Counterfeit banknotes

The European Central Bank has stated that 550 000 counterfeit euro banknotes were withdrawn from
circulation in 2003. The banknotes withdrawn included the following denominations: EUR 50 (52 %),
EUR 20 (30 %) and EUR 100 (12,7 %). Can the Commission indicate what initiatives it has proposed or
intends to propose to curtail this phenomenon, and the total amount of euros withdrawn from circulation?

Answer given by Mrs Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(25 March 2004)

The protection of the euro banknotes and coins against counterfeiting is carried out jointly by the
competent national authorities, the European Central Bank, Europol and the Commission. The roles and
responsibilities of these European institutions and bodies are complementary.

With a view to protecting euro banknotes and coins against counterfeiting, Community legislation has
been adopted including, ‘inter alia’, the following:

(cid:1) legislation laying down measures necessary for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting (1);

(cid:1) legislation increasing protection of euro banknotes and coins by criminal penalties and other sanctions

against counterfeiting (2); and

(cid:1) legislation establishing an exchange, assistance and training programme (Pericles) for the protection of

the euro (3).