WRITTEN QUESTION P-3146/98

by Umberto Bossi (NI) to the Commission

(8 October 1998)

Subject: Milk production

Article 3(4) of Regulation (EEC) 536/93(1) has been disregarded by the Italian authorities since 1995. The 1998 deadline has also been blatantly ignored. A sum of LIT 4 000 million is owed to Italian milk producers and blocked with the purchasers. The Italian Government has forwarded to DG VI (Protocol NC/2976) the questionnaire required by Article 8 of Regulation (EEC) 536/93, which records a level of national milk production amounting to deliveries of 9 325 938 tonnes for the year 1997/98, well below Italy's total reference quantity. The questionnaire contains "provisional data to be verified and supplemented". The milk purchasers are responsible for applying Regulation 3950/92(2) and must forward the information by 15 May each year.

Will the Commission therefore answer the following questions:

1. Does the statement quoted also appear in the questionnaire received?

2. Can the data forwarded be supplemented later?

3. Will purchasers who are late forwarding this data have their recognition withdrawn, in addition to paying penalties?

4. What compensation is to be granted to producers who have been deprived since 1995 of their right to compensation and therefore of their right to produce?

5. What inspection and protection measures does the Commission envisage applying in order to guarantee Community milk producers their right to work? How does it intend to intervene?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(5 November 1998)

It should first of all be noted that the Commission sent Italy a reasoned opinion addressing in particular the fact that the time limits for paying the levy due for the 1995-96 and 1996-97 milk years had not been complied with. Furthermore, the Commission reduced the advances on agricultural expenditure as calculated by an amount corresponding to the levies owing in the two periods in question. In the case of the 1997-98 period, the data sent under Article 8 of Commission Regulation (EEC) 536/93 of 9 March 1993 laying down detailed rules on the application of the additional levy on milk and milk products(3) will be checked and verified during the clearance of accounts.

1. A reference to "provisional data undergoing verification and consolidation" is included in the questionnaire that the Italian authorities sent to the Commission.

2. Where the data is amended as a result of the checks, the Member States must, in accordance with Article 8 of Regulation (EEC) 536/93, send the Commission updated data before 1 December, 1 March and 1 July each year.

3. The purchaser is penalised if the time limit for sending the detailed accounts established for each producer is not observed. On the other hand, approval may be withdrawn if the purchaser does not send all the data referred to above.

4. It must be emphasised that the producer has the right to produce a quantity of milk up to the limit of his individual reference quantity. The maximum amount of the levy that he must pay is calculated on the basis of the total size of his overrun. The Member State can reduce this amount by applying national provisions enacted under Article 2(1) of Commission Regulation (EEC) 3950/92 of 28 December 1992 establishing an additional levy in the milk and milk products sector(4). As a result, the Member State alone has the option of applying the equalisation mechanism.

5. The Commission will take steps, should they prove necessary, to ensure that the Community provisions are complied with.

(1) OJ L 57, 10.3.1993, p. 12.

(2) OJ L 405, 31.12.1992, p. 1.

(3) OJ L 57, 10.3.1993.

(4) OJ L 405, 31.12.1992.