WRITTEN QUESTION E-0884/00

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(22 March 2000)

Subject: Community inspection requirement for registration of Puerto de Laxe (Galicia) as a border inspection post

Council Directive 90/675/EEC(1) of 10 December 1990 lays down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on products entering the Community from third countries. Article 9(3) stipulates that the Member States were to submit their list of border inspection posts to the Commission before 31 March 1991. The list submitted by the Spanish Government did not include Puerto de Laxe (Galicia) as one of the port-located inspection post which are provided for in the Directive. Puerto de Laxe is a centre for unloading tuna, and has been striving since then to meet the requirements laid down in the Directive for inclusion as a port-located border inspection post. The first step was to construct premises, completed in September 1994, on which to carry out the inspection procedures laid down in the Directive. Since that date, infringing the provisions of Article 9(4) of the Directive, neither the Commission nor the relevant Spanish authorities have carried out any inspection to ascertain whether the requirements have been met and Puerto de Laxe can now be registered as a border inspection post. This inactivity and negligence on the part of both administrations is causing severe economic prejudice, particularly to freezer ships.

Is the Commission aware of its own tardiness and that of the Spanish authorities? How quickly can it take whatever steps are necessary to carry out the requisite inspection to verify that Puerto de Laxe meets the Community requirements, so that it can be included in the list of border inspection posts?

(1) OJ L 373, 31.12.1990, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(12 May 2000)

Border inspection posts are now approved under Council Directive 97/78/EC of 18 December 1997, laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on products entering the Community from third countries(1), which repealed and replaced Directive 90/675/EC(2). Member States must have adopted the necessary laws to implement the Directive by 1 July 1999. Article 6 of the Directive 97/78/EC states that to be listed a border inspection post must be proposed by a Member State once the competent authority has checked that it complies with the requirements of Annex II to this Directive and of Commission Decision 92/525/EEC of 3 December 1992 laying down the requirements for the approval of Community border inspection posts responsible for veterinary checks on products introduced from third countries(3). It must then be inspected by the Commission in collaboration with the competent authority of the Member States.

The Spanish authorities have not put forward the port of Laxe as an independent border inspection post and therefore this location has not been inspected by the Commission. The question of whether an inspection has been made by the Spanish authorities should more appropriately be addressed to them for a response.

(1) OJ L 24, 30.1.1998.

(2) OJ L 373, 31.12.1990.

(3) OJ L 331, 17.11.1992.