On the 30th August 2011 the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture voted to spend €2 million on research into homeopathy for farm animals.

The approved amendment to the 2012 draft EU Budget calls on the Commission to “set up a pilot project to coordinate research on the use of homeopathy and phytotherapy in livestock farming, in line with the motion for a resolution on antibiotic resistance in which Parliament called for the use of antibiotics in livestock farming to be reduced and for alternative methods to be used; such methods include the use of homeopathy and phytotherapy; the pilot project should involve the collection of data as to what research projects in the field of homeopathy and phytotherapy have already been set up by the various Member States’ universities and higher education institutions, and what findings they have made; the pilot project should also investigate whether, and in what framework, the universities involved cooperate.”

The proposed pilot project was justified as necessary because “antibiotic resistance is a growing problem in the EU and worldwide. One problem is the use of antibiotics in livestock farming. That is why research on alternative methods has to be moved forward, for example homeopathy and phytotherapy.”

Homeopathy claims to treat and prevent disease by using greatly diluted forms of herbs and minerals to develop resistance.  However, critics suggests that the only beneficial effect of homeopathy is due to the placebo effect - whereby people can get better because they believe they have been given medicine that works – which is clearly not going to work with animals.

The British Veterinary Association released a statement stating:

“Millions of Euros have already been spent on trying to prove the scientific efficacy of homeopathic medicines.  To date we have not seen any data to prove they can be effective in the treatment of bacterial infections.  Whilst it is unlikely that €2 million will be able to determine whether or not there is a basis for claiming homeopathic products can work, we welcome European investment in veterinary research and hope the results of the pilot will be useful.”

However, it should be noted that the budget negotiations are on-going with the whole Parliament due to vote on the draft budget in October.  If there are disagreements between the Council and the Parliament then a Conciliation Committee will be set up with the assignment of approving a joint text within 21 days.  If this is achieved that joint text is submitted to the European Parliament for approval.  If a joint text isn’t agreed or is rejected by the Parliament the Commission has to resubmit a new draft budget.

To read the amendments click here

Or alternatively visit the website www.europarl.europa.eu

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