WRITTEN QUESTION P-0558/03

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(20 February 2003)

Subject: Rendi meat market

One year ago, during a visit to Athens, a delegation from the Directorate-General for the Environment and Public Health found that the Rendi meat market was far from complying with the relevant EU rules. The Commission's subsequent report on the matter focused on the lack of equipment and disinfection procedures, the poor state of the buildings, the lack of changing rooms and the methods used for cutting meat. The Greek Government responded by announcing that GDR 4,5 billion would be allocated from the third CSF to build a new modern market in 2002. So far nothing has been done.

Will the Commission say if it has been informed of the allocation of these funds for the building of a new market? What is the Commission's view of the fact that the Rendi market is still operating in breach of EU rules, posing a threat to public health, and what will it do to ensure that Greece complies with the recommendations of the delegation that visited the meat market?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(21 March 2003)

Over the past three years the Commission, has had discussions on several occasions with successive Greek Ministers for Agriculture, both in Brussels and in Athens, to express concerns about weaknesses in food safety control systems in Greece, including the situation in Rendis meat market of Athens. The difficult situation at this market has been the subject of two missions and one follow-up inspection made by the Food and Veterinary Office in 2002.

The December 2002 follow-up inspection identified that a risk to consumer health from the situation in Rendis meat market could not be precluded. Nevertheless, some improvements in structure in one wing of the market and in official controls and operational standards were noted. However, important written commitments from the Greek authorities regarding improvements to the operation of the market had not been delivered, no shops failing to comply with Community requirements had been closed and work had not begun on the construction of the new market.

A project was already programmed by the Ministry of Agriculture and was eligible under the 2nd Community Support Framework for Greece (1994-1999). There has been no follow-up to date by the involved national authorities, even though such a project is also eligible under the current National Operational Programme Rural Development (2000-2006) for Greece.

It should be underlined that under the structural funds programmes, the Commission cannot require the Member States to promote specific projects, such as the creation or the modernisation of a meat market. As indicated in the reply to Written Question E-2566/01 by Mr Hatzidakis(1), it is for the Greek authorities to decide the inclusion of the project and to implement it in the relevant programme for rural development.

In the response from the Greek authorities following the inspection in January 2002 a guarantee was received that new market premises should be completed within 18 to 24 months. They have now indicated in a response to the findings of the December 2002 inspection that completion of the new market will take between three and four years.

The Commission's view is that the delays in closing the non-complying establishments within the market are incompatible with the fact that urgent action is needed to achieve acceptable hygiene and operational standards if the market is to be allowed to continue to operate until its replacement is available. Protection of consumer health must be given the highest priority in considering the future operation of the market.

The Commission has recently met with the Greek authorities and discussed this and other matters with them. Commitments to implement the necessary improvements have been received, and the Commission will continue to monitor the situation very closely.

(1) OJ C 115 E, 16.5.2002.