WRITTEN QUESTION E-1123/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. White Paper on Food Safety and the European Food Authority.
C 46 E/132 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 13. 2. 2001 Joint answer to Written Questions E-1121/00, E-1124/00, E-1126/00, E-1129/00, E-1130/00, E-1131/00, E-1132/00, E-1135/00, E-1136/00, E-1137/00, E-1138/00 and E-1139/00 given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (8 June 2000) In the White Paper on Food Safety (1), the Commission set out the general guidelines it intends to adopt concerning the future establishment of the European Food Authority and invited all the parties concerned to respond and contribute to the discussion during the consultation period. Regarding many of the points raised by the Honourable Member, the Commission is unable to finalise its proposals or fix the details of operational mechanisms until it has had an opportunity to consider the opinions expressed during the consultation procedure. However, with regard to the question of responsibilities, the White Paper states that risk assessment, the gathering of data and providing information to consumers in areas for which the Authority is responsible should be a matter for that Authority. For legal reasons and reasons of democratic responsibility, the Commission believes that, under the current the transfer of regulatory powers to an independent authority cannot be justified. However, any future extension of the Authorityís powers would have to be considered in the light of the Commissionís assessment of the Authorityís performance and the degree of confidence that it has generated without ruling out a possible need to amend the Treaty. framework, (1) COM(1999) 719 final. (2001/C 46 E/150) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1123/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (11 April 2000) Subject: White Paper on Food Safety and the European Food Authority The White Paper on Food Safety (COM(1999) 719 final) was published in January 2000. Chapter 4 is concerned with establishing a European Food Authority (EFA). Chapter 5 considers legislation on food safety. The Commission wants to apply the precautionary principle in full. Account will also be taken of other legitimate factors relevant to protection of health and to promoting fair practices in trade (sections 14 and 15). 1. What guarantees does the Commission have wthat the precautionary principle will be interpreted in a uniform way by all parties concerned? 2. How will the Commission determine that other factors are legitimate as far as protection of health and promoting fair practices are concerned? What specific factors does the Commission have in mind (please give example)? How will the Commission prevent the decision-making process losing its transparency as a result of 3. the other legitimate factors? Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (9 June 2000) Following the publication of the White Paper on Food Safety, the Commission adopted a communication concerning the application of the precautionary principle. This communication aims to promote a common understanding of the principle and of its application. It is currently being examined by the Community Institutions and the Codex Alimentarius, an international organisation among whose other members the Community is currently seeking to obtain a consensus on the application of the precau- tionary principle to food standards. The idea of discussing the possibility of taking other legitimate factors into consideration in the decision-making process has also been put forward by Codex Alimentariusin the its Procedural Manual but no indication of what these other legitimate factors are was included. This topic 13. 2. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 46 E/133 is the subject of wide-ranging discussions in which the Commission is making the case for a broad interpretation of the concept which includes aspects of ethics, economics, health, animal welfare and the environment, whereas other countries want to restrict these legitimate factors to good veterinary or agricultural practices and to sampling and analytical methods. The discussion has gained a higher profile in connection with the use of bovine somatotropin, which the Community banned because of its negative effects on the health and welfare of dairy cows. The Community opposes the approval of this hormone by Codex Alimentarius, citing inter alia the aforementioned other legitimate factors. Transparency in the decision-making process is not simply a matter of the scientific basis used by the legislator. Clearly it is essential that consumers should be informed in a clear and comprehensible manner of the scientific opinions on which the decisions have been based. However, the considerations taken into account by the decision-makers, particularly the evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of the various risk management schemes in terms of total cost for society, must also be clearly explained and the final decision fully justified. Justice has ruled on several occasions that the Court of considerations relating to the protection of human health must take priority over all economic considera- tions. In any case, (2001/C 46 E/151) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1125/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (11 April 2000) Subject: White Paper on Food Safety and the European Food Authority The White Paper on Food Safety (COM(1999) 719 final) was published in January 2000. Chapter 4 is concerned with establishing a European Food Authority (EFA). Chapter 5 considers legislation on food safety. The Commission says that scientific cooperation needs to be enhanced and coordinated with the work programme of the Scientific Committees. Hitherto there has been not much funding for this and there have often been delays in the programmes that have been implemented (section 20). How does the Commission intend to enhance scientific cooperation and speed up procedures? What proposals have already been formulated in this respect? (2001/C 46 E/152) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1133/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (11 April 2000) Subject: White Paper on Food Safety and the European Food Authority The White Paper on Food Safety (COM(1999) 719 final) was published in January 2000. Chapter 4 is concerned with establishing a European Food Authority (EFA). Chapter 5 considers legislation on food safety. Many EU Member States have made massive cutbacks in the public funding of scientific research in recent decades. As a result, scientists are partially dependent on industry for funding of their research. This position of dependence can impair the credibility of researchers and the advice which they give (section 41). 1. In what way will the Commission guarantee the independence of European scientists? 2. Does the Commission accept the proposal to establish a ceiling on the private funding of scientific research? If so, in what way will the Commission set the maximum and minimum levels of private and public funding, respectively? If not, does the Commission believe that private funding has no effect on the independence of scientist?