WRITTEN QUESTION E-0489/99

by Joaquín Sisó Cruellas (PPE) to the Commission

(5 March 1999)

Subject: Rabbit-breeding sector in Aragón (Spain)

The farmers' trade union ASAJA-Aragón has condemned the critical situation affecting the rabbit-breeding sector in Aragón (the region from which the author of this question comes). According to the trade union the sector in question, which has over 600 rabbit-breeding farms in Aragón, has been in economic crisis since the end of the 1998 season; commandind prices of less than 200 pesetas per kilogram for its product, i.e. 70 pesetas less than the production cost. In spite of this there has been no fall in retail prices to the public. In ASAJA's view, this has enabled intermediaries to make illicit profits at producers' expense. In addition, rabbits are imported on a large scale from third countries such as China and can then be sold on the Community market for ridiculously low prices on account of their low production costs.

In view of the serious situation in the rabbit-breeding sector as described above, could the Commission say whether or not it has considered the possibility of restricting, as far as possible, such cheap imports of rabbits from third countries?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(1 April 1999)

Imports of rabbit meat into the Community are covered by several Community acts.

Council Regulation (EEC) 827/68 of 28 June 1968 on the common organisation of the market in certain products listed in Annex II to the Treaty(1) covers rabbit meat. That Regulation establishes the common customs procedure for third countries, prohibits quantitative restrictions and provides for a safeguard clause and application of the articles of the EC Treaty on competition and freedom of movement inside Community territory.

The customs duty applicable to rabbit meat is 7,6 % from 1 January to 30 June 1999 and 7 % from 1 July to 31 December 1999.

The health standards for imports of rabbit meat are included in Chapter 11 of Annex I to Council Directive 92/118/EEC of 17 December 1992 laying down animal health and public health requirements governing trade in and imports into the Community of products not subject to the said requirements laid down in specific Community rules referred to in Annex A(I) to Directive 89/662/EEC and, as regards pathogens, to Directive 90/425/EEC(2). Under that Directive, lists of third countries and approved establishments have been drawn up, as has the specimen health certificate for imports of rabbit meat.

According to Article 3 of Regulation (EEC) 827/68, appropriate measures may be applied in trade with third countries in the event of a situation likely to endanger the objectives set out in Article 39 of the EC treaty. If the situation described by the Honourable Member is substantiated, it could possibly be the subject of a procedure under the safeguard clause. As yet, no Member State has made any move in this direction. Moreover, the foreign trade statistics available to the Commission show that Spain imported a total quantity of one tonne of rabbit meat in 1997 and the same quantity in 1998. Nowhere is China indicated as the origin of these imports.

(1) OJ L 151, 30.6.1968.

(2) OJ L 62, 15.3.1993.