WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3185/98 by Hadar CARS , Karl OLSSON , Astrid THORS to the Commission. Spraying of fruit and vegetables with antibiotics
21. 7. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 207/35 lived in Belgium she would receive a direct payment from the employment office in Belgium for this career interruption. Since the person in question lives in Germany, however, she does not receive this benefit. Is this not a violation of the freedom of movement of workers within the Community or of the application of social security schemes to workers moving within the Community? Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (15 December 1998) The Commission is aware of the problem of frontier working in Belgium but resident in another Member State and of their entitlement to Belgian family benefits in the event of a career break. The Commission has contacted the Belgian Government in order to find out the reason why the Belgian authorities refuse to pay such benefits. Once it receive the Belgian Government’s reply, the Commission will decide what further action to take. (1999/C 207/045) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3185/98 by Hadar Cars (ELDR), Karl Olsson (ELDR) and Astrid Thors (ELDR) to the Commission (27 October 1998) Subject: Spraying of fruit and vegetables with antibiotics Attention has recently focused in Sweden on the fact that antibiotics are used as pesticides in fruit and vegetable growing in some Member States (Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain). It has been established that excessive use of antibiotics can produce resistant bacteria in both humans and animals. The use of antibiotics as pesticides is, therefore, a health hazard. What measures does the Commission intend to take to put an end to the use of antibiotics as pesticides? (1999/C 207/046) WRITTEN QUESTION P-3356/98 by Anneli Hulthén (PSE) to the Commission (30 October 1998) Subject: Spraying of fruit with antibiotics The Swedish media, among other sources, reports that fruit farms are being sprayed with antibiotics to combat pests and crop disease. At the same time, it is known that excessive use of antibiotics can have very dangerous effects, such as producing resistant bacteria. Does the Commission consider that spraying with antibiotics is to be recommended and how is public health safeguarded with this type of spraying? Joint answer to Written Questions E-3185/98 and P-3356/98 given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (9 December 1998) Antibiotics registered for uses in plant protection in certain Member States include kasugamycin (registered in Greece, Spain and Netherlands), streptomycin (Belgium, Greece, Netherlands, Austria), validamycin (Nether- lands) and oxytetracyclin (Greece). These substances will be evaluated at Community level under Directive 91/414/EEC of 15 July 1991 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market (1) in the framework of the review programme for existing active substances