WRITTEN QUESTION P-0878/02

by Marit Paulsen (ELDR) to the Commission

(21 March 2002)

Subject: Violation of Decision 2000/766/EC (ban on processed animal protein)

Council Decision 2000/766/EC(1) required Member States to ban both exports and imports of processed animal protein for feeding to farm animals intended for the production of food. In Decision 2001/9/EC(2), the Commission required Member States to monitor compliance with this ban in certain specified ways.

Despite these measures, there are now reports that processed animal protein has been exported via ports in Belgium and the Netherlands to Brazil, where it has been used to feed chickens which were subsequently exported to the EU for sale as food.

Can the Commission confirm or deny these reports? If they are true, what has the Commission done to put a halt to this? If they are false, how has the Commission ascertained this?

(1) OJ L 306, 7.12.2000, p. 32.

(2) OJ L 2, 5.1.2001, p. 32.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(22 April 2002)

Article 3 (2) of Commission Decision 2001/9/EC of 29 December 2000 concerning control measures required for the implementation of Council Decision 2000/766/EC concerning certain protection measures with regard to transmissible spongiform encephalopathies and the feeding of animal protein(1) (known as the extended feed ban) prohibits the export of processed animal proteins provided they are destined for uses prohibited by the feed ban. Therefore, processed animal proteins can not be exported when intended for use in feed intended for farmed animals which are kept, fattened or bred for the production of meat such as broilers. A Member State may export processed animal proteins for other purposes such as pet food production or incineration, provided that a bilateral agreement with the third country is made prior to exportation, which includes an undertaking from the third country to respect the final use and not to re-export the product for prohibited uses. Member States which allow such exportation shall inform the Commission and the other Member States of all terms and conditions as agreed with the third country concerned in the context of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and the Animal Health.

The Commission has reminded the Member States of these obligations on several occasions. Also, the control of the production, use, destruction and exportation of processed animal proteins is one of the key issues monitored during missions of the Food and Veterinary Office in Member States.

Additionally, the Commission recently carried out a questionnaire survey to monitor, amongst other things, the disposal of processed animal protein. The survey revealed that some Member States were exporting processed animal protein to third countries for incineration or for use in pet food. These exportations were all in accordance with Article 3 (2) of Decision 2001/9/EC. None of the Member States informed the Commission about exportation of processed animal proteins to Brazil. If the Honourable Member has information indicating such export to Brazil, she is kindly invited to forward this information to the Commission.

(1) OJ L 306, 7.12.2000.