WRITTEN QUESTION P-0798/01

by Daniela Raschhofer (NI) to the Commission

(13 March 2001)

Subject: Biological earmark as proof of origin for cattle

As the Commission has no doubt learned from various press reports, in January 2000 the november AG company was awarded the Germany Industry Innovation Prize for Young Companies, for developing a biological marking process.

The biological earmark claims to be able to identify the origin of domestic animals and meat in a flawless way. Unlike the processes in use at present, this method claims largely to exclude opportunities for manipulation.

Is the Commission considering replacing the traditional process for proving origin by means of earmarks, animal passports and a cumbersome reporting and registration procedure with a system using the biological earmark?

What problems does the Commission foresee in introducing the biological marking process?

Does the Commission have details of the estimated cost involved in using the biological marking process?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(2 May 2001)

Although the development of a biological marking process has been described in the press as a promising tool, detailed information on the reliability of the process would be needed for the assessment of the biological earmark.

Concerning any possible replacement of the traditional process for identifing origin by means of earmarks, animal passports and reporting and registration it must be underlined that the Commission has no intention of proposing any relaxation of the provisions for identification and registration.

The two basic objectives of these provisions are:

- the localisation and the tracing of animals for veterinary purposes, which is of crucial importance for the control of contagious diseases;

- the management and supervision of livestock premiums as part of the reform of the agricultural policy.

With the adoption in 1997 of Council Regulation (EC) 820/97 of 21 April 1997 establishing a system for the identification and registration of bovine animals and regarding the labelling of beef and beef products(1), the existing provisions for the identification and registration of bovine animals (Council Directive 92/102/EEC of 27 November 1992(2)) were reinforced. This reinforcement was necessary as experience, and notably the bovine spongiform encephalopathy crisis, had shown that the implementation of the existing rules for identification and registration had not been entirely satisfactory and needed further improvement.

The reinforced system for the identification and registration of bovine animals comprises 1) eartags to identify animals individually, 2) computerised databases, 3) animal passports and 4) individual registers kept on each holding.

These provisions have been carried over in Regulation (EC) 1760/2000 of the Parliament and of the Council of 17 July 2000 establishing a system for the identification and registration of bovine animals and regarding the labelling of beef and beef products and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 820/97(3).

According to Regulation (EC) 1760/2000 the Commission is committed to present to the Parliament and the Council a report on electronic identification before 31 December 2001. No other alternative identification has been foreseen.

(1) OJ L 117, 7.5.1997.

(2) OJ L 355, 5.12.1992.

(3) OJ L 204, 11.8.2000.