EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/416

(2004/C 88 E/0423)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2500/03

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(25 July 2003)

Subject: Beef exports

Will the Commission list those countries still refusing to accept exports of beef from one or more EU Member States, and will it state the grounds for such refusal? Which of those countries were a significant market for EU beef exports in the past, and what measures is the Commission taking to reopen those markets to EU exports? How many of those countries are members of the Commonwealth?

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(5 September 2003)

The Commission becomes involved when an import ban is brought to its attention by individual Member States and/or Union industry.

The Commission would then assess the World Trade Organisation (WTO) compatibility of the Third Country measure and if it is considered that there could be a possible violation of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement of the WTO, the Commission would intervene with a range of possible actions. This process would be carried out in consultation with the Member States.

At this point in time (August 2003), the Commission is aware of the following import bans on EU beef from one or more Member States:

— Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD): South Korea still has yet to lift its restriction imposed on the United Kingdom as a result of the 2001 crisis. Korea informed the Commission that this will soon be lifted. However, due to a previous Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) ban which remains in place, United Kingdom beef would continue to be banned.

— BSE: nearly all countries in the world have banned Union beef from one or more countries of the Union and in particular from the United Kingdom. In terms of markets, the bans in relation to BSE are of most relevance. Even where bans are not in place, there are frequently additional restrictions (age of animal, herd of origin, etc.) going beyond the protective measures in place in the Union in relation to BSE. These restrictions also limit the export potential of Member States, especially in key former markets in North Africa and the Middle East. However, taking into account the long history of restrictions in relation to BSE and intervening developments (evolution of the world market in beef, etc.) it is difficult to identify the contribution of BSE towards loss of market share. The Commission is sending direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat a table containing figures for the total Union beef exports (meat and live animals) in tonnes carcase weight equivalent for the most recent years (1999-2002). It is worth noting that the Union beef market is at present relatively stable, with a balanced supply-demand situation.

The Commission has frequently addressed the disproportionate BSE trade restriction regimes of third countries during bilateral and multilateral contacts — such as in the WTO/Sanitary and Phytosanitary Committee — with the relevant countries, insisting that import restrictions must be science-based and comply with international standards. The Commission is also responsible for co-ordinating the position of the Member States on proposed changes to the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) animal health code, including the BSE chapter. In this regard, Union efforts are directed towards ensuring that the international standard is based on the latest scientific knowledge. This standard includes the scientifically justifiable measures which importing countries should adopt in relation to the import of bovine animals and products, and is aimed at enabling trade to take place in safe conditions. In addition, the Commission is ensuring that the ten acceeding Member States will fully implement the ‘acquis communautaire’ in the area of veterinary health and food safety, including BSE measures. This will open up new markets to beef exports from all existing Member States as existing restrictions of the acceding Member States will be required to be lifted to the extent they are not compatible with the relevant Community rules. Finally, in its bilateral dealings with third countries, the Commission continues to press for recognition that the existing series of protective measures is sufficient to allow for trade in beef and beef products to take place from all Member States.

The Commission does not have any formal trading agreements with the Commonwealth. However, it is reasonable to assume that most Commonwealth Countries maintain bans or restrictions on Union beef exports in relation to BSE. The Commission is currently negotiating with New Zealand a range of measures which would lead to the opening up of its markets to imports from the Union.