EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/376

(2004/C 88 E/0382)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1931/03

by Horst Schnellhardt (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(5 June 2003)

Subject: Introduction of European food standards legislation in the accession countries

According to press reports, serious problems have emerged with regard to the introduction of European food standards legislation in undertakings in the accession countries.

Can the Commission answer the following:

1. How much weight should be given to those reports?

2. How many undertakings (expressed as a percentage of all undertakings) in Poland and Hungary applied for transitional periods?

3. What measures has the European Commission taken to ensure that undertakings in the food industry cease production as from 1 May 2004 in the event of a failure to transpose hygiene legislation?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(30 June 2003)

The Commission is closely monitoring the food safety issues in the acceding Member States. By the day of accession, all new Member States will have to apply the high level of European standards, as defined by the ‘acquis communautaire’.

In general terms, important progress has already been achieved in the Candidate Countries with regard to food safety. There is no doubt that the accession to the Union will significantly improve the food safety standards in these countries.

Through regular missions undertaken by the Commission's Food and Veterinary Office, peer reviews and other missions, complemented by various other monitoring tools such as Monitoring Tables and Tables of Correspondance, the Commission follows closely the developments in the acceding Member States. Any problem so far identified was communicated to the respective countries. Should any shortcoming arise in the field of food safety by the day of accession, appropriate measures, which may include safeguard measures, will be taken to protect consumers in the Union.

As regards agro-food establishments in Poland and Hungary, a limited number of transitional periods were granted in the conclusion of the accession negotiations in December 2002. Such transitional periods were granted to 370 meat establishments in Poland (including cold stores and fish processing plants). These represent 13 % of the total number of Polish meat establishments expected at the day of accession. Transitional periods were also granted to 169 Polish milk establishments representing 51 % of the total number of Polish milk establishments expected at accession. These transitional periods are valid for Poland until 31 December 2007. In Hungary, 44 high capacity meat establishments have been granted transitional periods, representing 7 % of the total number of Hungarian meat establishments. These transitional periods for Hungary are valid until 31 December 2006.

During the transitional period, all products from establishments subject to such a transitional measure must be specifically labelled and only marketed locally; consequently releasing into the Internal Market will be prohibited.

Based on the Commission's monitoring, agro-food establishments without a transitional period and not complying with the Union food safety requirements by accession will need to be closed. In the meantime, the Commission provides assistance in the upgrading of agro-food establishments by providing expertise through Technical Assistance Information Exchange Office (TAIEX) and peer reviews, training activities and through the Twinning programme. It furthermore provides significant financial support from PHARE and Sapard.