WRITTEN QUESTION P-2963/02

by Christa Klaß (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(15 October 2002)

Subject: Financial participation by the EU in BSE monitoring programmes

It is said that the EU's planned financial contribution for Germany in 2002 (EUR 21 077 000) will not be sufficient. Rhineland-Palatinate has become the first Land to cease to subsidise BSE tests on animals aged over 30 months. Is the EU aware of any other countries which have ceased to provide subsidies or intend to do so, or how could the Member State have ensured that the EU's participation was sufficient for the year in question?

In Germany, BSE tests are also carried out on animals which have died, and animals aged under 24 months are tested. Will the EU make more funds available to Germany in view of the fact that the numbers of animals slaughtered have risen and are large, or is it possible for subsidies to be transferred from Member States which are perhaps not exhausting the funds allocated to them?

Why does the EU intend to reduce its participation from EUR 15 to EUR 10 in 2003?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(12 November 2002)

The rules for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) monitoring are laid down in Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 of the Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 laying down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies(1), as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1494/2002 of 21 August 2002(2). According to these rules, all bovine animals above 30 months of age slaughtered for human consumption must be tested for BSE. All bovine animals above 24 months of age which have died on the farm, have been sent for emergency slaughter or have been found sick when sent for normal slaughter must also be tested for BSE.

Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 does not include provisions on the financing of the BSE monitoring programme. In principle the tests could be funded by the sector itself or by public means. Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June 1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field(3), as last amended by Council Decision 2001/572/EC of 23 July 2001(4), provides for the possibility of a Community contribution, within the limits of the appropriate budget line. Since 2001 the Community has contributed to the costs of the BSE monitoring programmes in the Member States, but each year the contribution is limited to a maximum amount established when the programmes are approved.

In some Member States the projections indicate that they will not spend the total amount allocated to them for BSE monitoring in 2002. The Commission intends to bring forward a proposal transferring money from these Member States to Member States where the projections indicate that the original allocation will not suffice. It is, however, unlikely that this will allow the Commission to co-finance all eligible tests at the maximum rate, as the projections indicate that there is a total deficit of EUE 10-20 million in the budget line.

The financial contribution from the Community can only be used to reimburse costs arising from the compulsory monitoring programme laid down in Regulation (EC) No 999/2001. Hence, monitoring of healthy slaughtered animals below 30 months of age or dead-on-farm animals below 24 months of age will not be reimbursed.

In 2002, BSE tests are being co-financed at a maximum amount of EUR 15 per test. In 2003 the maximum amount will be EUR 10,5 per test. The amount has been decreased because the average cost per test is lower than originally estimated, around EUR 18 per test (weighted average cost in 2001), and decreasing.

(1) OJ L 147, 31.5.2001.

(2) OJ L 225, 22.8.2002.

(3) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990.

(4) OJ L 203, 28.7.2001.