WRITTEN QUESTION P-3360/00

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(20 October 2000)

Subject: Conditions in Greek slaughterhouses

On 1 October 2000, three slaughterhouses in the Greek province of Achaia, which did not meet the required hygiene standards, were closed by order of the Commission. In view of the role played by slaughterhouses in food hygiene and consumer health, will the Commission state to what extent it is satisfied with the progress made in modernising slaughterhouses in Greece, and its view, in general, of developments in this sector for which it also provides funding? What sum was approved for the modernisation of slaughterhouses, how much has been disbursed, and what results have been achieved?

Can the Commission also say to what extent Greece complies with the following directives:

- 93/118(1) and 96/43(2) on the financing of health inspections and controls of fresh meat and poultrymeat,

- 97/12(3) on health problems affecting intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine,

- 97/76(4) with regard to the rules applicable to minced meat, meat preparations and certain other products of animal origin,

- 97/78(5) and 97/79(6) laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on products entering the Community from third countries.

Has Greece taken implementing measures to comply with each of the above directives? If so, does it apply them correctly? If not, has the procedure for infringement of Community law been initiated and what stage has it reached in respect of each of the above directives separately?

(1) OJ L 340, 31.12.1993, p. 15.

(2) OJ L 162, 1.7.1996, p. 1.

(3) OJ L 109, 25.4.1997, p. 1.

(4) OJ L 10, 16.1.1998, p. 25.

(5) OJ L 24, 30.1.1998, p. 9.

(6) OJ L 24, 30.1.1998, p. 31.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(20 December 2000)

The Commission's Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) carries out regular inspections in the Member States in order, inter alia, to verify compliance with Community health regulations governing slaughterhouses.

An inspection visit to poultry slaughterhouses in Greece revealed shortcomings in this connection. The FVO subsequently inspected Greek pig, beef and veal slaughterhouses in September 2000. The Commission will decide what action to take to ensure the correct application of Community law in the light of the corresponding report, which is currently being finalised.

The Commission closely monitors the transposition of Community Directives into national law, particularly in the veterinary field. Greece's failure to notify national implementing measures in respect of the directives referred to by the Honourable Member led it to initiate infringement procedures under Article 226 (ex Article 169) of the EC Treaty. The procedures covering Directives 97/76/EC and 97/78/EC, which had reached the reasoned opinion stage, were discontinued after the Greek authorities took appropriate transposing action, but those in respect of Directives 97/12/EC (formal notice in 2000) and 97/79/EC (reasoned opinion in 2000) are still in progress. In the case of Directives 93/118/EC and 96/43/EC, the Commission was obliged to initiate infringement procedures pursuant to Article 228, owing to Greece's non-compliance with Court judgments delivered in 1998 and 1999. These are currently at the reasoned opinion and formal notice stages respectively.

One of the principal objectives of EU funding for slaughterhouse modernisation is, of course, to ensure conformity with Community health standards. According to the Commission's information, total aid for meat slaughterhouses to the end of 1999 under Council Regulation (EC) No 951/97 of 20 May 1997 on improving the processing and marketing conditions for agricultural products(1) was36,8 million, of which the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) (Guidance Section) contributed17,8 million for the corresponding programming period (1994-1999). By September 2000, 28 of the 100 slaughterhouses targeted had been modernised, representing a 28 % success rate (in terms of project completion). This is obviously a disappointing outcome, particularly in view of the overall weighted average processing and marketing results for Greek agricultural products under the aforementioned regulation and especially as operations and payments may extend into 2001.

Consequently, whilst recognising that the special nature of this sector inevitably makes investment in slaughterhouse modernisation a slow and relatively difficult undertaking, the Commission considers that Greece is significantly behind in this process.

(1) OJ L 142, 2.6.1997.