WRITTEN QUESTION P-1906/00

by Albert Maat (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(6 June 2000)

Subject: Advertising campaign for British pigmeat in the United Kingdom

There is an advertising campaign for British pigmeat in the United Kingdom worth 7,4 million (£ 4,6 million) financed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Meat and Livestock Commission. There are posters in the regional and national press referring to different standards of animal welfare in other Member States of the EU. The campaign of 11 May is to do with the restricted space which sows allegedly have and the 30 May campaign refers to the cannibalism that allegedly occurs as a result of feeding bone meal. The campaign puts other Member States (indirectly) in a bad light.

The main purpose of the campaign is to encourage the sale of British pigmeat, which will have an adverse effect on exports of pigmeat principally from Denmark and the Netherlands to the United Kingdom. The campaign has been launched in the light of the crisis in the British pigmeat sector which is the result not only of differences in welfare requirements in the Union but also of the exchange rate of the pound.

Is the Commission aware of the British advertising campaign for pigmeat? What is its attitude towards this campaign?

Does the Commission agree that the campaign and the resultant distortion of competition are a contravention of the European internal market? If not, why not?

Does the Commission agree that a level playing field needs to be created within the internal market, with uniform standards for animal welfare, so that the pig sector can operate under the same conditions throughout Europe? If not, why not? If so, what action is the Commission considering taking?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(29 June 2000)

The Commission is aware of the promotion campaign to which the Honourable Member refers. The Commission has started an inquiry with the authorities in the United Kingdom to investigate the matter. Without prejudice to the outcome of these investigations, the Commission emphasises the importance of proper observance of the state aid rules in the field of promotion and advertising of agricultural products as they are outlined in the framework for national aid for advertising of agricultural products and certain products not listed in Annex II (now Annex I) to the EC Treaty, excluding fishery products(1) and the Commission communication concerning state involvement in the promotion of agricultural and fisheries products(2).

The minimum requirements for the protection of pigs kept in intensive conditions are provided by Council Directive 91/630/EEC of 19 November 1991(3). Article 6 provides for appropriate proposals to improve the welfare conditions of farmed pigs on the basis of a specific report from the scientific veterinary committee. This report has been adopted and can be consulted at the Internet site of the Commission at the following address:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg24/health/sc/oldcomm4/out_en.html.

The report makes various recommendations to improve the welfare conditions of pigs kept in intensive conditions, including the necessity to keep sows in social groups.

The Commission will submit a proposal to amend the present legislation based on these recommendations and practical experiences of the Member States. The draft Commission proposal, that is being prepared and will be presented to the Council before September 2000, will include in particular provisions banning individual stalls for sows. The Commission proposal also aims to establish separate areas for the performance of the normal behaviour patterns of the animals. Enrichment of the environment and mutilations of the pigs will also be addressed. The Commission has also to take into consideration socio-economic implications when proposing measures such as those concerning the ban on individual sow stalls.

(1) OJ C 302, 12.11.1987.

(2) OJ C 272, 28.10.1986.

(3) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991.