EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/700

(2004/C 78 E/0748)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0320/03

by Massimo Carraro (PSE) and Vincenzo Lavarra (PSE) to the Commission

(10 February 2003)

Subject: Poultrymeat imports

In the last two years there has been a huge increase (109 % a year) in the volume of poultrymeat (chicken and turkey) imported onto the Community market, which has risen from 244 000 to 790 000 tonnes. The meat in question falls under tariff headings 0210, 1602 31 11, and 1602 31 19 (fresh meat and meat preparations).

Does the Commission know that the meat is being imported in such a way as to circumvent the prevailing tariffs, as laid down by the WTO, because, merely by adding small quantities of salt and/or other spices, exporters can benefit from unlawful tariff reductions, resulting in unjustified losses to the Community budget?

What practical steps will the Commission take to protect consumers, bearing in mind that inspections carried out in various parts of the Union have shown that the imported meat contains nitrofurans and the farms of origin use types of animal meal prohibited under Community rules?

Is the Commission aware that this continuing trading aberration has seriously disturbed the Community market, from both the health and the economic point of view, and considerably damaged European producers, who are having to contend with distorted, unfair competition?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(18 March 2003)

The Commission has indeed noted a significant increase in imports of certain types of poultrymeat and poultrymeat preparations. Nevertheless the figures quoted by the Honourable Members do not relate to the past 24 months or to the products concerned, but seem to relate to other reference periods and to imports of all poultrymeat and poultrymeat preparations, expressed in carcase weight. In 2000-2001, imports increased from 397 000 tonnes to 576 000 tonnes. In 2002, they comprised an estimated 550 000 tonnes.

Certain types of chicken meat were classified by some Member States' customs authorities as salted meat under tariff heading 0210, although the meat in question was frozen chicken meat containing insufficient quantities of salt for long-term preservation and which therefore, by the mere fact of being frozen, fell under tariff heading 0207. Faced with divergent interpretations of the general rules on tariff classification in the Community, the Commission as quickly as possible took appropriate legal measures by means of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2002 (1) in order to clarify the tariff classification of this type of product and to ensure that they are classified uniformly as frozen chicken meat under heading 0207.

Although the Commission is not aware at present of illicit circumvention under tariff heading 1602 covering inter alia uncooked, seasoned meat, the Honourable Members can be sure that appropriate measures would be taken immediately to combat this type of fraud if it was identified.

The Commission is aware of the health and economic risks and has taken a range of practical measures to protect consumers and producers. Third countries must present residue control plans to the Commission, including measures to prevent abuse. Tests of substances are also carried out at the point of import to the Union. Inspection missions by the Food and Veterinary Office also address the control measures in place in relation to residues of banned substances.

Where it is evident that there are problems, further measures are considered. These range from the imposition of increased testing, from 20 % to 100 % of imported consignments, to an outright ban on imports. There are at present measures of this nature in place in relation to imports of poultrymeat from several third countries, including Brazil, Thailand and China.

Finally, the Commission has recently adopted a proposal concerning the official controls on food and feed (2) and is preparing a proposal on feed hygiene where provisions to prevent health hazards to human health, animal health and the environment will be further harmonised and strengthened. Both proposals are also applicable to third countries that want to export to the Union.

(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1223/2002 of 8 July 2002 concerning the classification of certain goods in the Combined Nomenclature, OJ L 179, 9.7.2002.

(2) Proposal for a Regulation of the Parliament and of the Council on official feed and food controls, COM(2003) 0052 final.