WRITTEN QUESTION E-0428/01

by Mauro Nobilia (UEN) to the Commission

(16 February 2001)

Subject: Checks relating to the ban on the sale and use of animal feed containing animal proteins for ruminants

Following the discovery of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in 1986, and of the fact that the disease is spread by the feeding to ruminants of animal meal containing animal proteins, the Commission, in Decision 90/134/EEC(1), made it obligatory for all Member States to notify instances of the disease. In the months and years that followed 1990 many other decisions were adopted aimed at preventing the export and consumption of animals thought to pose a risk.

On 27 June 1994 the Commission adopted Decision 94/381/EC(2), which banned the feeding to ruminants of proteins of animal origin. The recent cases of BSE identified in numerous Member States demonstrate that the ban on the use of animal proteins has not been complied with.

In addition, the Commission spends large sums of money on BSE monitoring programmes aimed at ensuring that potentially suspect meat does not find its way onto the market. It does not appear, however, that any money is spent on promoting stricter checks on the application of the ban on the use of animal proteins in animal feeds for ruminants.

Can the Commission say whether the above information is correct?

Does it intend to check what measures have been introduced by the Member States to give effect to the ban on the sale and distribution of animal feeds containing animal proteins, which, given that they are the only cause of the spread of the disease, must be got rid of completely?

Is it prepared to examine the possibility of providing for increased and more systematic Community-level checking in relation to the ban on the manufacture and use of feeds containing animal proteins, in order to prevent the re-emergence of BSE in the near future?

Does it intend to adopt provisions on the granting of financial aid for monitoring programmes aimed at preventing the sale and use of feeds containing animal proteins?

(1) OJ L 76, 22.3.1990, p. 23.

(2) OJ L 172, 7.7.1994, p. 23.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(11 June 2001)

Protection of consumer health is one of the prime objectives of the Commission. Any potential health risk relating to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is taken extremely seriously. To this end, a comprehensive series of Community measures has been put in place.

It is true that some of these measures have been co-financed by the Community. However, their objectives did not only apply to BSE monitoring but also to BSE eradication, public health protection and support of the beef market.

With respect to compliance with the recent prohibition to feed farmed animals with processed animal proteins, the Commission has already received information from the Member States regarding its implementation. This information was provided in response to a questionnaire that was sent to the Member States on 5 January 2001. It enabled the Commission to obtain a comprehensive picture of the way in which the measures are being implemented. The results were broadly satisfactory and an implementation report has been presented to the Member States on 29 January 2001.

Member States are responsible for implementation and enforcement of Community law. Their performance is monitored by inspectors of the Food and Veterinary Office, who visited the Member States in this respect in December 2000 and early in 2001. The reports of these controls are expected to be finalised and published on Internet shortly. A second round of inspections is already being prepared. With regard to the above prohibition,

Article 3(4) of Commission Decision 2001/9/EC of 29 December 2000 concerning control measures required for the implementation of Council Decision 2000/766/EC concerning certain protection measures with regard to transmissible spongiform encephalopathies and the feeding of animal protein(1) requires documentary checks and tests to be carried out on feed materials and compound feedingstuffs throughout the production and distribution chain to ensure compliance with this prohibition.

There is no Community financing foreseen to monitor the ban on sale and use of feeds containing animal proteins.

(1) OJ L 2, 5.1.2001.