Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

[**Avis juridique important**](../../../editorial/legal_notice.htm)

*|*

# 92001E1509

**WRITTEN QUESTION P-1509/01 by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Antibiotic Research.** 
  
*Official Journal 318 E , 13/11/2001 P. 0245 - 0246*

  

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1509/01

by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(15 May 2001)

Subject: Antibiotic Research

There is a growing problem of resistance to antibiotics in many EU countries. In order for laboratory based research to be carried out, academics must have access to antibiotic powder. In many cases, however, pharmaceutical companies will only provide antibiotic powder to researchers if the researchers give a written undertaking not to public their research results without prior permission

from the pharmaceutical company. This restriction may have significant public health implications if the research results were unfavourable towards the pharmaceutical product. Given the public health and consumer welfare issues that are involved in this issue, could the Commission please outline its views on this matter and specifically point out how it aims to ensure that the pharmaceutical industry will not seek to restrict access to antibiotic material necessary for research in this way?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(20 June 2001)

The issue of antimicrobial resistance forms an inherent part of the Community's health strategy and comprises actions in all the relevant sectors, public health, veterinary and phytosanitary. The Commission is currently finalising a communication which will set out a Community strategy against antimicrobial resistance from this multisectoral perspective.

With respect to the specific question on access to antibiotic powder for laboratory research, and having contacted several companies who may be concerned, the Commission is not aware that the pharmaceutical industry seeks to restrict access to antibiotic material for laboratory research purposes. It is however standard practice to request undertakings from the researchers to ensure that the research is legitimate and appropriate and to request sight of the results in advance of publication. Availability of specific antibiotics and the particular undertakings requested are likely to be decided on a case-by-case basis, depending on whether the antibiotic concerned is already available on the market, or whether it is still at an early stage of development. The Commission considers that the manner in which the pharmaceutical industry supplies antibiotic material for academic research is, in general, appropriate, but is not in a position to comment on individual contractual arrangements between a specific company and a specific academic institution.

[Top](#document1)