Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

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

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# 92002E3008

**WRITTEN QUESTION E-3008/02 by Elspeth Attwooll (ELDR) to the Commission. Foetal bovine welfare.** 
  
*Official Journal 155 E , 03/07/2003 P. 0073 - 0074*

  

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.

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.

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