A4-0260/97

Proposal for a Council Regulation on measures to promote and market quality beef and veal and on publicity measures on the labelling of beef and veal and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 2067/92 (COM(97)0070 - C4-0193/97 - 97/0058(CNS))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Citation 1

>Original text>

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 43 thereof,

>Text following EP vote>

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Articles 43, 100a and 129a thereof,

(Amendment 2)

Recital 1

>Original text>

Whereas Council Regulation (EEC) No 2067/92 of 30 June 1992 allows the Community to part-finance specific measures undertaken by trade and inter-trade organizations to encourage the consumption and marketing of quality beef and veal; whereas, in the light of experience and in order better to deal with the market problems arising from the BSE crisis, changes should be made to the current promotional scheme;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas Council Regulation (EEC) No 2067/92 of 30 June 1992 allows the Community to part-finance specific measures undertaken by trade and inter-trade organizations to encourage the consumption and marketing of quality beef and veal; whereas, in the light of experience and in order better to deal with the market problems arising from the lack of consumer information in the early stages of the BSE crisis, changes should be made to the current promotional scheme;

(Amendment 3)

Recital 1a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas in order to deal more effectively with the market problems resulting from the BSE crisis and to re-establish consumer confidence, information measures must be undertaken with the assistance of trade and inter-trade organizations and in consultation with representatives of recognized consumer organizations in which consumers have confidence;

(Amendment 4)

Recital 3

>Original text>

Whereas Council Regulation (EC) No ... established a new Community labelling system for beef and veal intended to provide the consumer with additional guarantees; whereas consumers should be informed about the new system by means of special measures financed by the Community;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas Council Regulation (EC) No ... established a new Community labelling system for beef and veal intended to provide the consumer with additional guarantees; whereas consumers should be informed about the new system by means of special measures chosen, organized and financed by trade or inter-trade organizations and part-financed by the Community;

(Amendment 5)

Recital 4

>Original text>

Whereas national programmes to promote identified beef and veal exist alongside the Community programmes in a number of Member States; whereas provision should be made to take account of such programmes so as to ensure the necessary coordination;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas programmes run by national and competent regional authorities to promote identified beef and veal exist alongside the Community programmes in a number of Member States; whereas provision should be made to take account of such programmes so as to ensure the necessary coordination; whereas national and regional organizations already working in this field in Member States should be involved in the new scheme as they know the local market demand;

(Amendments 23 and 6)

Recital 5

>Original text>

Whereas consumer reaction to the crisis has shown that consumers invariably prefer products whose origin is indicated; whereas an approval procedure should be laid down to permit the identification of the origin of products under certain conditions preventing infringement of Article 30 of the Treaty;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas consumer reaction to the crisis has shown that consumers invariably prefer products whose origin is indicated, to which they attach greater importance than the exact description of the type of carcass; whereas an approval procedure should be laid down to encourage the identification of the origin of products taking into account Article 30 of the Treaty;

(Amendment 7)

Recital 5a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the descriptions in the Annex to Regulation (EEC) No 1318/93(1) should be updated to include the full range of carcasses and fat classes from prime beef cattle where the necessary consumer information concerning origin, herd, animal feed etc can be given;

______

(1) OJ L 132, 29.5.1993, p. 83.

(Amendment 8)

Recital 7

>Original text>

Whereas, in order to ensure that the measures are as effective as possible, the Commission should be able to call for technical assistance in the areas concerned;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas, in order to ensure that the measures are as effective as possible, the Commission should be able to call for technical assistance from appropriate bodies in the meat- marketing sectors of the Member States in the areas concerned;

(Amendment 9)

Recital 7a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas in order to avoid any damage to products of Member States, this Regulation must establish objective criteria for the allocation of the appropriations for financing the information measures for quality beef and veal;

(Amendment 10)

Recital 7b (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas a Community logo would facilitate the identification by the consumer of quality European beef and veal and enable its collective promotion; whereas this Regulation provides for the development of a Community logo for quality European beef and veal;

(Amendment 11)

Article 1(1)

>Original text>

The Community may part-finance measures undertaken by trade and inter-trade organizations to promote quality Community beef and veal identified as such.

>Text following EP vote>

The Community may part-finance measures undertaken by trade and inter-trade organizations to promote quality Community beef and veal identified pursuant to current regulations.

(Amendment 12)

Article 1(2)

>Original text>

As soon as the Community labelling system is put in place, the Community may finance publicity measures intended to inform the consumer of the guarantees offered by this system.

>Text following EP vote>

As soon as the Community labelling system is put in place, the Community shall part-finance publicity measures carried out by the Member States intended to inform the consumer of the guarantees offered by this system.

(Amendment 13)

Article 1(2a)(new)

>Text following EP vote>

The Community may finance both measures to promote the sale of beef and veal and information measures in connection with the direct marketing thereof.

(Amendment 14)

Article 2(3)

>Original text>

Promotional and marketing measures must not be biased in favour of any trade mark nor confer advantage on products from a particular Member State.

>Text following EP vote>

Such information, promotional and marketing measures must not be biased in favour of any trade mark nor confer advantage on products from a particular Member State.

(Amendment 15)

Article 2(3a) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Beef and veal eligible for promotional measures shall include all cuts of meat and carcasses from eligible identified herds (provided consumers can be given information they require about origin, animal feed, husbandry, etc) and not be restricted to particular carcass types.

(Amendment 16)

Article 3

>Original text>

The use of logos or symbols identifying the origin of products in accordance with Regulation (EC) No .../96 on the labelling of beef and veal and beef products may be authorized in accordance with the terms and the procedure to be laid down in the detailed rules for the application of this Regulation.

>Text following EP vote>

The use of logos or symbols identifying the origin of products in accordance with Regulation (EC) No .../96 on the labelling of beef and veal and beef products should be encouraged and may be authorized in accordance with the terms and the procedure to be laid down in the detailed rules for the application of this Regulation.

(Amendment 17)

Article 4

>Original text>

The Community may finance suitable measures to publicize the qualities of Community beef and veal in third countries.

>Text following EP vote>

The Community may finance suitable measures to publicize the qualities of Community beef and veal in third countries and to inform about beef and veal labelling in third countries.

>Text following EP vote>

A Community logo to facilitate the identification of quality European beef and veal shall be developed.

>Text following EP vote>

The Community may participate in the provision of technical assistance for information regarding the new labelling Directive.

>Text following EP vote>

The Community may participate in the provision of technical assistance to promote the dissemination of information regarding the new labelling Directive in relation to direct marketing.

(Amendment 22)

Article 5

>Original text>

The Community financial contribution to the measures referred to in Article 1 may not exceed 60% of their actual cost. However, for the actions under Article 4, this financial contribution may be increased up to 80% of their actual cost.

>Text following EP vote>

The Community financial contribution to the measures referred to in Article 1, first and second paragraphs, and Article 4, second and third paragraphs, may not exceed 60% of their actual cost. However, for the actions under Article 1, third paragraph, and Article 4, first and fourth paragraphs, this financial contribution may be increased up to 80% of their actual cost.

>Text following EP vote>

Under no circumstances shall there be a 100% Community contribution to any measure.

(Amendment 19)

Article 6

>Original text>

For the application of Articles 1, 3 and 4, and particularly as regards the choice of strategic means, assessment and monitoring, the Commission may ask for technical assistance from publicity experts with a thorough knowledge of the beef and veal sector.

>Text following EP vote>

For the application of Articles 1, 3 and 4, and particularly as regards the choice of strategic means, assessment and monitoring, the Commission may ask for technical assistance from publicity experts with a thorough knowledge of the consumer protection aspects of the beef and veal sector, and may use such experts in different Member States to organise publicity and marketing campaigns where they have particular knowledge of local market conditions.

(Amendment 20)

Article 9a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Article 9a

The Commission shall submit each year to the Council and European Parliament a report on the implementation of this Regulation and for the first time one year after its entry into force.

(Amendment 21)

Article 10(1a) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

It shall be applied with effect from 1 January 1998.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation on measures to promote and market quality beef and veal and on publicity measures on the labelling of beef and veal and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 2067/92 (COM(97)0070 - C4-0193/97 - 97/0058(CNS))

(Codecision procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(97)0070 - 97/0058(CNS) ((OJ C 149, 17.5.1997, p. 26.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 43 of the EC Treaty (C4-0193/97),

- whereas the legal basis proposed by the Commission is inappropriate; whereas reference should also be made to Articles 100a and 129a of the EC Treaty;

- having regard to Rule 58 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development and the opinions of the Committee on Budgets, the Committee on Legal Affairs and Citizens' Rights and the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection (A4-0260/97),

1. Approves the Commission proposal, subject to Parliament's amendments;

2. Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 189a(2) of the EC Treaty;

3. Calls on the Council to incorporate Parliament's amendments in the common position that it adopts in accordance with Article 189b(2) of the EC Treaty;

4. Should the Council intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament, calls on the Council to notify Parliament and requests that the conciliation procedure be initiated;

5. Points out that the Commission is required to submit to Parliament any modification it may intend to make to its proposal as amended by Parliament;

6. Instructs its President to forward this opinion to the Council and Commission.