WRITTEN QUESTION E-1211/96 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (15 May 1996)

Subject: Conditions in Greek abattoirs

Under Council Directives 91/497 and 91/498 ((OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 69 and 105 )) Greece was accorded Community funds for the modernization of its abattoirs. Under Council Directive 91/497/EEC, the operation of abattoirs which failed to fulfil Community standards should be suspended from 1 January 1993, while Council Directive 91/498 granted derogations authorizing the continued operation until 31 December 1995 of abattoirs which were carrying out improvements so as to comply with Community specifications. Presidential Decree 410/94 provides that, from 1 January 1996 abattoirs fulfilling these requirements, whether establishments with a large workforce and high consumption figures or establishments with a small workforce, shall continue to operate.

However, although four months have now elapsed since 1 January 1996, the deadline for the entry into force of Presidential Decree 410/94 and the relevant Council Directives, many abattoirs in which the health conditions fail to meet the requirements of Community directives and even Greek legislation are continuing to operate in Greece.

Following the expiry of all the deadlines set by Presidential Decree 410/94 and Directive 91/498/EEC, can the Commission say what the legal situation now is concerning the operation of abattoirs in Greece, what measures it will take to suspend the operation of abattoirs which fail to meet the required standards and whether it is prepared to institute proceedings before the Court of Justice of the European Union for infringement of Community law?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (21 June 1996)

The health conditions for the production and marketing of fresh meat are laid down in Council Directive 64/433/EEC ((OJ 121, 29.7.1964 )), as amended by Council Directive 91/497/EEC ((OJ L 268, 24.9.1991 )) and 95/23/EC ((OJ L 243, 11.10.1995 )).

With a view to the completion of the internal market, the rules for the production and marketing of fresh meat were extended to the national markets by Directive 91/497/EEC.

These rules took into account the fact that certain establishments would be unable to comply with all of the new requirements by 1 January 1993. In order to prevent abrupt closures of establishments, the principle of limited and temporary derogations from specific Community health rules for establishments in operation before 1 January 1992 was accepted by the Member States under certain conditions laid down in Council Directive 91/498/EEC ((OJ L 268, 24.9.1991 )). These derogations were limited until 31 December 1995. By Directive 95/23/EC the possibility was introduced for the authorities to allow additional time to comply to a slaughterhouse which qualifies for a derogation. In such cases the operator must show that he has begun to bring the premises into compliance with the requirements of the Directive but cannot, for reasons not attributable to him, meet the time limits originally laid down. In so far actions against these establishments are not appropriate.

To verify the uniform application of the Directive and in order to avoid any distortion of competition, the Commission is inspecting slaughter houses in the Member States. The results of these inspections are forwarded to the Member States so that any necessary measures may be taken as soon as possible.