WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2987/98 by John IVERSEN to the Commission. Call for national registers of veterinary drug use
8. 4. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 96/155 Moreover, Turkeyís insistence on buying the Canadian CANDU type of reactor, which uses totally different technology from normal high-pressure reactors, raises numerous questions. CANDUs can, in fact, be used to produce nuclear weapons, which is an obvious threat to peace in the wider region. Following Indiaís admission that it succeeded in making its own nuclear bomb with the aid of a CANDU reactor, it cannot be ruled out that Turkey might also repeat the process. In the light of these revelations, what action will the Commission take to persuade Turkey (an EU associate country) to cancel this nuclear programme which poses such a tremendous threat to the safety of the EUís population? Answer given by Mr van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (28 October 1998) The Commission would refer the Honorable Member to its answer to his Written Questions P-662/98 (1), E-1876/ 98 (2) and E-2190/98 (3) and to Written Question E-2107/98 by Mr Alavanos (4). (1) OJ C 304, 2. 10. 1998, p. 143. (2) See page 12. (3) See page 54. (4) See page 37. (1999/C 96/223) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2987/98 by John Iversen (PSE) to the Commission (8 October 1998) Subject: Call for national registers of veterinary drug use The European consumerís growing desire for wholesome and unadulterated food means there is a need to step up checks on the use of drugs in farming. Antibiotic growth promoters and the excessive use of drugs are creating resistant bacteria and, in the longer term, people could die from illnesses such as influenza and pneumonia because they can no longer be treated using antibiotics. If national registers were set up to record the use of drugs in farming, it would be possible to compare levels of use in different Member States and thus to file complaints if use was found to be excessive in certain Member States. This would also provide a tool for conducting research into the links between resistant bacteria and drug use. A pattern is already emerging which indicates that the number of resistant bacteria is much lower in the Scandinavian countries, where veterinary drug use is low compared with countries such as the UK, the Netherlands and Belgium. Does the Commission not think it would be a good idea to submit a proposal requiring Member States to establish national registers of drug use in farming? At the same time, it could submit a proposal requiring antibiotics to be made available only on prescription in the Member States, which would prevent farmers from using drugs as growth promoters. Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (11 November 1998) The Commission is conducting a detailed investigation of the problem raised by the Honourable Member and will inform him of the outcome as soon as possible