WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3917/98 by Graham MATHER ECOFIN Council meeting of 1 December 1998
C 341/18 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 29. 11. 1999 Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (17 March 1999) The use of additives in animal feed is regulated by Council Directive 70/524/EEC of 23 November 1970 concerning additives in feedingstuffs (1). Prohibition of the four additives to which the Honourable Member refers has been proposed by the Commission since under Article 3a of the Directive it considers that ‘for serious reasons concerning human or animal health’ their use must ‘be restricted to medical or veterinary purposes’. As the preamble to the Regulation adopted by the Council on 17 December 1998 (2) states, withdrawal of authorisation for bacitracin zinc, spiramycin, virginiamycin and tylosin phosphate is to be perceived as a precautionary measure dictated by the need to preserve the effectiveness of human medicaments and so protect human health. The decision taken is in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organisation conference of October 1997, the Economic and Social Committee, the International Office of Epizootics and the Copenhagen conference on antibiotic resistance of September 1998. (1) OJ L 270, 14. 12. 1970. (2) COM(98) 763 final. (1999/C 341/028) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3898/98 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission (4 January 1999) Subject: Ethnic bomb In the light of recent reports from South Africa and Israel concerning the possible development of biological weapons capable of targeting victims by ethnic or racial origin. Would the Commission please confirm: 1. 2. that no EU funding is being used either directly or indirectly for any such research? that no such research is being carried out in EU Member States? Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (10 February 1999) The Commission can confirm that no Community funding is either directly or indirectly being used for the research mentioned by the Honourable Member. The Commission is not aware of any such research being carried out in Member States. (1999/C 341/029) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3917/98 by Graham Mather (PPE) to the Commission (4 January 1999) Subject: Ecofin Council meeting of 1 December 1998 At this meeting, the Code of Conduct Group asked the Commission to complete as soon as possible two studies: a comparative study of administrative practices, and a cross-country review of the taxation of holding company activities and intra-group activities within Member States