WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2825/97 by Ria OOMEN-RUIJTEN to the Commission. Trade in anabolic steroids (SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER)
C 158/14 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 25. 5. 98 This is not inconsistent with the fact that the Commission, as stated in its Reply to written question E-1705/97 by the Honourable Member, was unaware of the specific facts behind the Courtís statements in the 1994 annual report. These facts (regions involved, Member Statesí measures and details of actual damage) were not notified to the Commission, which has asked the Court to provide concrete information (damage, regions, municipalities) on the points raised in written questions E-1901/96 and E-1902/96 (3). It will pass this information directly to the Honourable Member. (1) OJ C 303, 14. 11. 1995. (2) OJ L 297, 21. 11. 1996. (3) OJ C 60, 26. 7. 1997. (98/C 158/18) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2825/97 by Ria Oomen-Ruijten (PPE) to the Commission (1 September 1997) Subject: Trade in anabolic steroids Is the Commission aware that trade in anabolic steroids, which is allowed in Spain but banned in the Netherlands, is distorting the internal market and jeopardizing public health protection? Under what conditions is the trade in Spain permitted (is prescription required, is export allowed)? What arrangements does the Commission have in mind to bring about uniform European regulations ensuring comprehensive health protection? Supplementary answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (10 November 1997) Available by medical prescription in accordance with the provisions of Council Directive 92/26/EEC concerning the classification for the supply of medicinal products for human use (1), anabolic steroids are, in Spain, medicinal products placed on the market with very specific therapeutic indications, such as remedying loss of muscular mass following severe malnutrition, compensating for prolonged treatment with high doses of corticoids or certain cancer treatments, use in conjunction with major surgical operations and treating burns patients. All these anabolic agents are available in Spain by virtue of national marketing authorisations granted by the Spanish authorities and valid only on Spanish territory. To date none of these agents has been the subject of a mutual recognition procedure, the principle of which is to allow the smooth functioning of the Community internal market. As for health protection, this is ensured inter alia by the provisions of Directive 92/26/EEC. Within the framework of the mutual recognition procedure, it is only where discrepancies appear between Member States in the granting of marketing authorisations for the same anabolic agent that, where appropriate, the Commission could invoke Article 11 of Council Directive 75/319/EEC of 20 May 1975 on the approximation of provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action relating to proprietary medicinal products (2) with a view to harmonising the relevant national marketing authorisations. (1) OJ L 113, 30. 4. 1992. (2) OJ L 147, 9. 6. 1975