B4-0879, 0888, 0889, 0893, 0911, 0916 and 0922/96

Resolution on the Commission's information policy on BSE since 1988 and measures it has taken to ensure compliance with the export ban and eradicate the disease

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the answers of President Santer and Commissioner Fischler of 16 July 1996 concerning the decisions on BSE,

- having regard to its resolutions of 14 June 1990 on Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) ((OJ C 175, 16.7.1990, p. 173.)), 22 January 1993 on Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) ((OJ C 42, 15.2.1993, p. 273.)), based on report A3-0368/92, 28 March 1996 on the Commission's measures with regard to BSE ((OJ C 117, 22.4.1996, p. 55.)), and 6 June 1996 on the effects of the decisions of the Agricultural Council of 3 and 4 June 1996 concerning the measures to be taken to eradicate BSE ((Minutes of that Sitting, Part II, Item 11.)),

A. having regard to the result of the public hearing held by its Environment Committee and Agriculture Committee on 24/25 June 1996 and given the fact that the Commission has not yet replied to all requests from the European Parliament,

B. having regard to the currently catastrophic consequences of mad cow disease, with each day revealing more and more its complexity and implications, and whereas the crisis has caused the public to lose confidence not only in the food industry but also in the senior civil servants and politicians who have been called upon to manage the crisis at European as well as at national level,

C. having regard to recent press reports on BSE and possible decisions on the information policy vis-à-vis EU consumers and the possible breach of the ban on UK beef exports,

1. Denounces the apparent unwillingness of some Commission departments and the Member States to deal in a transparent way with the BSE crisis when it arose; is of the opinion that everything must be done to improve the efficiency and credibility of the European institutions, which are often accused of a lack of transparency in their decision-making procedures and of a distance from the real concerns of the European citizens;

2. Is concerned that an internal Commission document published in the press indicates that the Commission has failed in its duty to provide appropriate information about the risks related to BSE and may even have encouraged a Member State to stop publishing the results of its research;

3. Insists that full background information must be made available into all steps that the Commission and other EU authorities have taken since BSE was first noticed in the 1980's; all disinformation or concealing of information must be cleared up in the inquiry and the European Parliament must be informed;

4. Stresses the fact that this disease cannot be eradicated as long as the functioning of the Internal Market takes precedence over the protection of the health of consumers and the lives of people both within and outside the European Union;

5. Calls on the Commission in these circumstances to review its present internal organization in order to improve its efficiency and to introduce stricter controls with regard to the safety of food products, consumer protection and public health in close cooperation with the competent authorities in the Member States;

6. Calls for urgent measures from the Commission providing for appropriate penalties on the economic operators responsible for fraud and diversion of trade enabling the embargo on beef imports from the United Kingdom to be circumvented;

7. Draws the Commission's attention to the fact that the European Parliament reserves the possibility of investigating the allegations of maladministration in this area, both at Community and national level, and to set up a Committee of Inquiry;

8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the Parliaments of the Member States.