WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1352/98 by Ben FAYOT to the Commission. Alternatives to animal testing
C 402/116 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 22. 12. 98 Does the Commission intend to propose Community legislation on the subject and, if so, when? Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (11 June 1998) The Commission agrees that an adequate supply of well-trained air traffic controllers is essential for global aviation safety. There are several ways to ensure that the necessary level is met. Member States, according to their own traditions, apply various means ranging from in-house requirements which are part of the internal management responsibility of air traffic service providers to full licensing systems by governmental safety regulators. This differentiated approach has not led to any identifiably detrimental effects for the safety or the interoper- ability of national air traffic systems within the Community. Therefore, despite the possible advantages in terms of overall uniformity and cost-efficiency that it might produce, the Commission does not consider the establishment of a harmonised Community scheme for the hiring and training of air traffic controllers to be priority. (98/C 402/152) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1352/98 by Ben Fayot (PSE) to the Commission (7 May 1998) Subject: Alternatives to animal testing In recent years the European Parliament and European animal welfare bodies have constantly stressed the need to replace animal testing (e. g. in the cosmetics industry) by alternative methods. I now learn that Professor Michael Balls, Head of ECVAM, the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods, in Ispra, Italy, is having his research contract extended by only two rather than five years. Does this mean that the research centre is now being given low priority and that the Commissionís policy for replacing animal testing by alternative methods, which is already scarcely dynamic is to become even less effective? Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (24 June 1998) The European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) at the Joint Research Centre (JRC) will continue to receive the resources it needs to carry out productive research. The development of alternative test methods, included in the fourth framework programme of research and development, (1) will continue in the fifth framework programme. It is included in the specific JRC programme and in the indirect actions. The Councilís common position of 12 February 1998 on the fifth framework programme (2) states with regard to the first activity Quality of life and management of living resourcesí that where possible, animal experiments and tests on animals should be replaced by in vitro or other alternative methods. (1) OJ L 117, 18. 5. 1990. (2) COM(97) 553 final