WRITTEN QUESTION E-1676/99 by Marialiese Flemming (PPE-DE) to the Council. Hunting season for migratory bird species.
20. 6. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 170 E/71 With Parliamentís support, the Commission has been advocating wider use of responsible self-medication in recent years. This approach reflects peopleís willingness to take greater responsibility for their own health, and has already significantly eased the burden on social security schemes. Does the Commission intend to continue to pursue this policy and further improve the regulatory framework for non-prescription medicines? (1) OJ C 141, 13. 5. 1996, p. 63. Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (26 October 1999) The Commission shares the view expressed by the Honourable Member that responsible self medication and the existence of an appropriate regulatory frame for non-prescription medicinal products (áover the counterí (OTC) products) is an important issue which deserves particular attention. The Commission notes that Community pharmaceutical legislation already provides for a detailed legal framework concerning the placing on the market of medicinal products in the Community and that the current legal situation can be considered as satisfactory. There is, however, always scope for improvement. According to Article 71 of Regulation (EEC) 2309/93 of 22 July 1993 laying down Community procedures for the authorisation and supervision of medicinal products for human and veterinary use and establishing a European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (1), the Commission will publish, before the end of 2001, a general report on the experience acquired as a result of the operation of the new marketing authorisation systems for medicinal legislation products. This general report will be the basis for a review of Community pharmaceutical including the rules applicable to OTC-products. This comprehensive review of Community pharmaceutical legislation will have to consider issues of particular importance for OTC products including the functioning of the mutual recognition procedure (in particular the inclusion of legal status in the process of mutual recognition), the scope of products eligible for the centralised procedure, the classification of medicinal products into OTC and prescription- only products (currently included in Council Directive 92/0026/EEC of 31 March 1992 concerning the classification for the supply of medicinal products for human use) (2) and the requirements and conditions for advertising of OTC-products (currently included in Directive 92/0028/EEC of 31 March 1992 on the advertising of medicinal products for human use) (3) In addition, the Commission supports actions that promote the availability of sound advice and the dissemination of accurate information as regards self-medication, in the framework of its programme on health promotion, information, education and training. In this context special attention is being paid to strengthening the role of health professionals in the area of health promotion, including self-medication, and to better defining indications suitable for self-medication. (1) OJ L 214, 24. 8. 1993. (2) OJ L 113, 30. 4. 1992. (3) OJ L 113, 30. 4. 1992. (2000/C 170 E/080) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1676/99 by Marialiese Flemming (PPE-DE) to the Council (22 September 1999) Subject: Hunting season for migratory bird species Council Directive 79/0409/EEC (1) on the conservation of wild birds sets out the European Unionís commitment to conserving all species of wild birds occurring naturally in the European territory of the Member States. C 170 E/72 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 20. 6. 2000 With regard to the hunting of certain species, the directive requires Member States to ensure that the principles of áwise use and ecologically balanced controlí of populations of the species concerned, in particular migratory species, are observed. They are required to ensure that migratory species in particular are not hunted during the various stages of reproduction or the rearing season. In March 1994 the Commission proposed an amendment to the directive, leaving it to each Member State to determine the period of the hunting season. The Commission proposal, which did not lay down a uniform EU-wide date for the end of the hunting season, was debated by the European Parliament. In February 1996, Members voted in favour of the annual hunting season ending on 31 January throughout the EU. What steps have since been taken by the Council to meet Parliamentís demand? Some Member States have fixed the period of the hunting season in a way which puts at risk the conservation of certain species. For example, the hunting season in France opens at a time when young birds are still dependent on being cared for by their parents. This contravenes of Article 7 (4) of Directive 79/0409/EEC. For that reason, infringement proceedings have been instituted against France. What stage has been reached in the proceedings? What action does the Council intend to take to ensure that the provisions of Directive 79/0409/EEC are implemented in all the Member States? (1) OJ L 103, 25. 4. 1979, p. 1. Reply (2 December 1999) In examining the Commission proposal, which defines the extent of Member Statesí discretion with regard particularly to the date of the end of the hunting season, the Council specifically considered the possibility of a single cut-off date, which could fall between 31 January and 10 March. The Council noted the opinion of the European Parliament on this subject in 1996, in favour of a uniform EU-wide date for the end of the hunting season, namely 31 January each year. However the Council has not yet managed to find a solution which might achieve unanimous agreement on all the problems raised by the Commission proposal. In order to facilitate as broad an agreement as possible, contacts between the Member States concerned are currently underway. (2000/C 170 E/081) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1679/99 by Marialiese Flemming (PPE-DE) to the Commission (22 September 1999) Subject: Antibiotics in feedingstuffs For decades antibiotics have been used as growth promoters for fattening purposes. However, the use of such feed additives poses the risk that bacteria may become resistant to the antibiotics and it may no longer be possible to treat diseases occurring with them. Furthermore, residues of the antibiotics may find their way into the human body through the consumption of eggs, milk, meat, etc. , thereby posing a significant health risk. Sweden imposed a ban on the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in fattening on 1 January 1986, prior to the countryís accession to the European Union. During the Austrian Presidency, the use of four antibiotic feed additives was banned throughout the EU