WRITTEN QUESTION P-0647/98 by John Iversen (PSE) to the Commission (25 February 1998)

Subject: Promotion of beef and veal

The proposal implementing the proposal for a European Parliament and Council regulation on measures to promote and market quality beef and veal and on publicity measures on the labelling of beef and veal (COM (97) 70 and 518) restricts aid to beef and veal from meat-type breeds and to calves of less than 140 kg from all breeds, which generally speaking are all battery calves. This restriction is justified by the Commission's wish to encourage a switch from dairy/meat-type breeds to pure meat-type breeds.

1. Does the Commission believe that Danish calves from dairy/meat-type breeds which are shipped to the Netherlands as suckling calves and fattened as battery calves - a form of production that is prohibited after a transitional period - are of a higher quality than the same calves fattened as organic bull calves on the farm where they are born?

2. Does it believe that meat from old suckler cows is of a higher quality than bullocks from dairy/meat-type breeds fattened on grass all their lives?

3. Does it really believe in the need to promote a switch to meat-type breeds? Is not the main reason for the surplus of beef and veal the sharp rise in such production together with the fact that milk output has been subject to quota?

4. Does it not agree that it is discriminatory and contrary to the proposal's title that subsidies cannot be provided to promote beef and veal from dairy/meat-type breeds? Is there not the same need to restore consumer confidence in all kinds of beef and veal?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (26 March 1998)

The proposal for a European Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) ((OJ C 364, 2.12.1997.)) on measures to promote and market quality beef and veal and on publicity measures on the labelling of beef and veal and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 2067/97 of 30 June 1992 on measures to promote and market quality beef and veal ((OJ L 215, 30.7.1992.)) aims to extend the scope of promotional measures for quality beef and veal (possibilities in third countries).

The Commission is aware that promotional measures intended to win consumer confidence must first of all cover quality beef and veal from beef or mixed breeds raised on specialised farms.

However, in adopting its implementing measures, the Commission wants to reserve the right to extend or restrict the list of products which may be supported by the promotional campaigns part-financed by the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF), depending on the markets targeted and the funds available.

Currently, Annex I to Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1318/93 of 28 May 1993 on detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2067/92 on measures to promote and market quality beef and veal provides for the possibility of carrying out promotional measures not only for meat from veal calves (animals slaughtered at around six months old) and bovine animals of beef breeds and crosses thereof but also for meat from female animals of beef breeds or first crosses with animals of dairy breeds up to a maximum of 72 months old (point 3.5.1. of that Annex).

As regards the particular questions put by the Honourable Member:

1. The Commission has no opinion.

2. The Commission takes the view that only the market and consumers, through the interplay of supply and demand, can direct beef and veal production.

3. The Commission has no intention of influencing the choices of stockfarmers or producers. However, the recent measures applied on the Community beef and veal market, mainly as a consequence of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) crisis, will no longer be necessary if Parliament and the Council adopt the Agenda 2000 proposals ((COM(97) (2000) final.)) (to improve the balance between supply and demand).

4. Since implementation of these programmes began, in order to restore consumer confidence, the Commission's approach has been to encourage the production of quality beef and veal. Only products which undergo additional checks and are covered by the stricter rules provided for in Annex I of the abovementioned Regulation can effectively fulfil this objective.