WRITTEN QUESTION E-1125/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. White Paper on Food Safety and the European Food Authority.
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?