WRITTEN QUESTION E-2016/99

by Jan Andersson (PSE) to the Commission

(9 November 1999)

Subject: Commission efforts to remedy shortcomings in the use of meat export certificates

So far this year, 25 consignments of salmonella-infected meat imported from other EU Member States have been discovered in Sweden. These consignments were in most cases accompanied by certificates from the countries of origin that were technically in order, but the meat was infected with salmonella nevertheless. Under current rules, only spot checks may be made. There is obviously a danger, therefore, that infected meat will get through to consumers. Salmonella is nowadays a common public health problem that causes a relatively high number of fatalities in several Member States. The fact that certificates from Member States cannot be taken as guaranteeing that imported consignments of meat are salmonella-free therefore constitutes a very serious problem.

What steps is the Commission taking to remedy the obvious shortcomings in Member States' use of meat export certificates?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(2 December 1999)

Consignments of fresh beef, veal and pig meat, poultry for slaughter and fresh poultry meat intended for Finland and Sweden must be sampled and tested for salmonella according to the rules laid down in Council Decisions 95/409/EC(1), 95/410/EC(2) and 95/411/EC(3), respectively. The sampling shall be carried out in the establishment of origin. Consignments must be accompanied by a certificate according to Council Directives 64/433/EEC(4), 90/539/EEC(5) and 71/118/EEC(6), for fresh beef, veal and pig meat, poultry for slaughter and fresh poultry meat, respectively.

The Commission is aware of some irregularities in the past concerning incorrect certification and that the Swedish authorities have initiated a specific guarantee project. However, the Commission has not been informed on the results of the project concerning this year.

Council Directive 89/662/EEC of 11 December 1989(7) sets down the framework of the controls concerning veterinary checks for the internal market which should in principle be carried out at origin and not at destination. Thus Article 3 of the Directive provides an obligation that Member States shall ensure that only products that have been obtained, checked, marked and labelled in accordance with Community rules for that commodity are placed on the market.

Several steps have been taken or are currently under preparation in order to guarantee compliance with the Community provisions concerning veterinary checks and certificates thereof. Directive 89/662/EEC sets

down in Article 16.3 a requirement that Member States must submit to the Commission in a harmonised form basic information on veterinary checks carried out under this Directive. This Article was initially implemented by Commission Decision 98/470/EC of 9 July 1998 implementing Council Directive 89/662/EEC as regards information on veterinary checks(8) which put in place the framework requirements for the collection and submission of information, and contained one annex dealing with the sector for fresh meat.

A draft decision for the next sector, that covering poultry meat, is currently in preparation prior to being submitted to the standing veterinary committee. The Commission has the intention to produce further draft decisions to extend the sectors of activity for which information must be gathered and submitted to the Commission.

In addition to the measures explained above it is important that Member States bilaterally agree on measures concerning cases of suspected or proven irregularities in certificates in accordance with Article 8 of Directive 89/662/EEC.

(1) OJ L 243, 11.10.1995.

(2) OJ L 243, 11.10.1995.

(3) OJ L 243, 11.10.1995.

(4) OJ 121, 29.7.1964.

(5) OJ L 303, 31.10.1990.

(6) OJ L 55, 8.3.1971.

(7) OJ L 295, 30.12.1989.

(8) OJ L 208, 24.7.1998.