WRITTEN QUESTION E-0309/03

by Markus Ferber (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 February 2003)

Subject: National and Community rules and their consequences for beekeepers

1. The rules governing the use of lactic acid in beekeeping are applied differently in the individual EU Member States. How does the Commission view the various economic and environmental consequences of this state of affairs for beekeeping?

2. Why has the Commission seized the initiative over the obligation of professional associations, although this matter falls within the remit of the Member States?

3. To what extent can the rules on the authorisation of lactic and formic acid and the obligation to sell them only in pharmacies vary in the individual Member States without creating any distortions of competition under EU legislation?

4. How does the Commission intend to react, as regards the authorisation of sprays, to changed methods of cultivation in modern agriculture in which the cultivation of genetically modified plants is steadily increasing?

5. Is the provision of sugar for winter feeding covered by European legislation? Which treaties and agreements are affected by these rules? To what extent does the Commission see the need to act at European level to redress price trends and thus distortions of competition?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(13 March 2003)

1. There are no specific provisions in Community legislation on the use of organic acids (lactic acid) in hives to combat certain diseases but prior authorisation has to be obtained for their use as veterinary medicines. It appears nonetheless that in practice the variation in approach between certain Member States is justifiable given the direct impact of climatic conditions on the yield of this type of treatment.

2. In 1997 the Council of Ministers adopted Regulation (EC) No 1221/97 of 25 June 1997 laying down general rules for the application of measures to improve the production and marketing of honey(1). Article 4 requires the voluntary national programmes to be drawn up in close collaboration with the representative organisations and beekeeping cooperatives. Thus the Member States are required to involve these organisations in establishment of the national annual programmes.

3. The national rules on authorisation of veterinary medicinal products for treatment or prevention of diseases in bees have to be in line with the relevant Community legislation: Directive 2001/82/EC(2), Regulation (EEC) No 2377/90(3) and Regulation (EEC) No 2309/93(4). These provisions do not prevent Member States from adopting stricter rules on the prescription and delivery of certain veterinary medicinal products if this is necessary in order to protect human or animal health. Dispensing of veterinary medicines is a matter for Member States, which are to take all appropriate measures to regulate wholesale supply and retail supply to owners and keepers of animals.

4. Authorisation of the use of plant protection products is governed by Council Directive 91/414/EEC of 15 July 1991 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market(5) and is a specific responsibility of the Member States. When granting authorisations Member States have to ensure that the safety requirements of the Directive are met and that the risk management restrictions imposed for active substances in Annex I to the Directive are adhered to. The Commission has recently set up with the Member States a Working Group on Herbicide Tolerant Plants and one of its functions is to look at the possible impact of genetically modified plants on herbicide use.

5. No. An aid scheme for purchase of denatured sugar was in force from 1968 to 1974. After several adjustments aid for the sector (purchase of sugar included) was discontinued in 1983 mainly because of high administrative costs given the sector's structure: a very large number of highly dispersed recipients, the majority not being full-time farmers. It is for the same reason that the Commission is not planning to propose any new direct aids for beekeeping.

(1) OJ L 173, 1.7.1997.

(2) Directive 2001/82/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 6 November 2001 on the Community code relating to veterinary medicinal products OJ L 311, 28.11.2001.

(3) Council Regulation (EEC) No 2377/90 of 26 June 1990 laying down a Community procedure for the establishment of maximum residue limits of veterinary medicinal products in foodstuffs of animal origin OJ L 224, 18.8.1990.

(4) Council Regulation (EEC) No 2309/93 of 22 July 1993 laying down Community procedures for the authorization and supervision of medicinal products for human and veterinary use and establishing a European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products OJ L 214, 24.8.1993.

(5) OJ L 230, 19.8.1991.