WRITTEN QUESTION E-3906/00

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(13 December 2000)

Subject: Measures to be taken by the EU following the discovery of cattle affected by mad cow disease in Galicia, Germany and the Azores

People in Galicia, as in the rest of Europe, are at present deeply concerned about the appearance in Galicia of the same problem as in Germany and the Azores, the discovery of a cow suffering from bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Concern is all the greater among farmers who, together with the authorities, must find a rapid solution to this serious problem. Whilst they are calling for measures to be taken with regard to health, consumption and production, they should not suffer the consequences, not least because this disease can be transmitted to human beings and is due to the lack of foresight of the authorities of the Member States and the European Union following the outbreak of the epidemic in the United Kingdom and its subsequent spread to France.

Since this is a European problem requiring generalised solutions which is affecting Galicia in particular, where the first case of this disease in Spain was detected, can the Commission say:

- why the Union institutions did not take steps years ago to eradicate BSE, in particular a ban on the use of animal meal in cattle feed, a large proportion of which is produced by multinational companies, with a total annual production of 3 million tonnes, which seems to be the cause of the disease;

- what measures the EU will take in Galicia, in conjunction with the Spanish State and the Galician authorities, to ensure the swift eradication of this disease;

- how it intends to provide financial compensation for the Galician farmers affected by the measures implemented, since their cattle must be slaughtered? Will they, in this case, receive the compensation needed to cover the full value of the cattle? Will farmers receive the financial aid needed to compensate for the heavy losses suffered as a result of the fall in consumption caused by people's alarm and distrust?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(16 March 2001)

The inclusion of mammalian protein in feedstuffs intended for ruminants has in fact been prohibited in all Member States since August 1994. This ban has recently been extended on a temporary basis to prohibit the inclusion of all processed animal proteins in feedstuffs for farmed animals.

In addition to the feed ban, the Community has introduced numerous measures to prevent the re-cycling of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) agent and to bring about its eventual eradication. These measures include high temperature rendering of mammalian waste, compulsory notification and testing of all BSE suspects, rapid testing of all over thirty-month old healthy, sick and emergency slaughtered cattle in addition to dead-on-farm animals and removal and destruction of specified risk material. Enforcement of these controls is within the competence of the Spanish Authorities.

Commission Regulations (EC) No 164/97 of 30 January 1997 adopting exceptional support measures for the beef market in France by application of Decision 97/18/EC(1), (EC) No 299/97 of 19 February 1997 adopting exceptional support measures for the beef and veal market in Germany(2), (EC) No 1112/97 of 18 June 1997 adopting exceptional support measures for the beef market in Ireland in application of Decision 97/312/EC(3), have all established legal frameworks for compensation of producers of animals being slaughtered under the various national BSE measures. The Commission had in each case received a formal request from the Member State concerned, a procedure which would also apply in the case of Spain. Under the above-mentioned compensation schemes, producers were compensated on the basis of the objective value of the animal. In response to market pressures caused by a drop in beef consumption, the Commission has recently adopted a number of support measures, intended to help the Community market recover from the present crisis. These are currently before the Parliament and the Council for consideration. Additional measures will also be proposed which fall within the normal market management mechanisms operated by the Commission.

(1) OJ L 29, 31.1.1997.

(2) OJ L 50, 20.2.1997.

(3) OJ L 162, 19.6.1997.