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Answer to written question on Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)
Date published: 9 October 2009
WRITTEN QUESTION E-4451/09 by Jim Higgins (PPE) to the Commission
Subject: Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)
Could the Commission indicate what action it is taking to reduce the prevalence of FASD, with particular emphasis on adequate labelling and warning systems? Could the Commission indicate whether or not it supports the classification of alcohol as a drug, which would institute best‑practice standards for corporate and social responsibility?
Answer given by Ms Vassiliou on behalf of the Commission
The Commission is aware that increasing levels of alcohol consumption by girls and women entail increased risk of alcohol-exposed pregnancies and consequent fetal damage. The Commission has addressed this issue in the 2006 Communication on an EU Alcohol Strategy to support Member States in reducing alcohol-related harm[1], which places the protection of the unborn child amongst the priority themes for action. The Commission's role is to co-ordinate, support and encourage broad-based action.
The Communication on an EU Alcohol Strategy cites as an example of good practice that some Member States have introduced, or are planning to introduce, labeling on alcoholic drinks to protect pregnant women and the unborn child.
The Commission's recent Progress Report on the Alcohol Strategy describes progress in this and other areas of the Strategy. The Report highlights that surveys of Member States activity indicates that awareness raising-activities on the risks of alcohol use during pregnancy are on the rise and that a wide variety of initiatives are taking place. Almost half of Member States have now deployed campaigns or other information activities to raise awareness of the risks of alcohol use during pregnancy. In addition, France has introduced a mandatory warning on all alcohol products about the risks of alcohol use during pregnancy and similar measures are being discussed in other countries.
The Commission has set up the Committee on National Alcohol Policy and Action as a forum for Member States to share experiences, initiatives and policies, including those to prevent harm from alcohol use during pregnancy. The Commission is also encouraging wider stakeholders to act, through the European Alcohol and Health Forum. Public health authorities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and economic operators have undertaken a whole range of measures in this field, as suggested for instance by the Parliament in its resolution of September 2007.[2] Raising awareness among women, among the general public and among health professionals is of crucial importance.
The Commission will continue to monitor closely developments in this field and to encourage the development of common approaches across the EU.
As to the Honourable Member's question relating to the classification of substances, EU legislation on the classification of drugs is limited to regulations to harmonize intra-Community control and monitoring of drug precursors, that is, licit and illicit (chemical) substances which can also be used for the manufacture of illicit drugs.[3] As regards the classification of drugs, Member States implement in national law the United Nations Conventions on Drugs[4]. These Conventions are international treaties to prohibit the production, trafficking, export, import and distribution of illicit substances for other than medical or scientific purposes. Licit substances such as alcohol and tobacco are not part of these Conventions.
[1] COM(2006) 625 final.
[2] European Parliament resolution of 5 September 2007 on an European Union strategy to support Member States in reducing alcohol-related harm (2007/2005(INI))
[3] Regulation (EC) No 273/2004 of the Parliament and of the Council of 11 February 2004 on drug precursors, OJ L 47, 18.2.2004. Council Regulation (EC) No 111/2005 of 22 December 2004 laying down rules for the monitoring of trade between the Community and third countries in drug precursors, OJ L 22, 26.1.2005.
[4] 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs as amended by the 1972 Protocol; 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances; 1988 UN Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropice Substances.