WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1928/96 by Gianni TAMINO to the Council. Discrepancies in translations of the most recent provisions on BSE
Date: 1996-07-17
Institutions: European Parliament, TAMINO
Subjects: European Commission, animal disease, animal product, cattle, comitology, health risk, import restriction, scientific committee (EU), translation













EUR-Lex - 91996E1928 - EN






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91996E1928

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1928/96 by Gianni TAMINO to the Council. Discrepancies in translations of the most recent provisions on BSE  


Official Journal C 083 , 14/03/1997 P. 0005 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-1928/96 by Gianni Tamino (V) to the Council (17 July 1996)Subject: Discrepancies in translations of the most recent provisions on BSEFollowing the EU's imposition of an embargo on exports from the UK of beef and veal and their derivatives and the events relating to the spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), it was decided on 11 June 1996 that the embargo on imports of gelatine derived from bovine tissue should be lifted (Decision 96/362/EC) ((OJ L 139, 12.6.1996, p. 17. )). The major disparities found in the various language versions of that directive could have extremely serious consequences. The Italian version states that gelatin may be produced from 'pelli, carnicci, tendini e nervi' (skins, fleshings, tendons and nerves) while all the other language versions refer only to 'hides, skins and tendons'. Nerve tissue and fleshings are believed to carry with them a high risk of contagion from BSE.Is the Council aware of the above situation?Which language version is authentic?Does the Council believe that the words added were simply a mistake on the part of the translator or that, given the economic interests at stake, they were actually a deliberate misrepresentation of the original text?Joint answer to Written Questions E-1928/96, E-1947/96 and E-1949/96 (17 January 1997)The Honourable Member's questions relate to Commission Decision 96/362/EC of 11 June 1996 ((OJ L 139, 12.6.1996, p. 17. )).The Decision was finally adopted by the Commission after a III(b) committee procedure as provided for in Article 18 of Directive 89/662/EEC ((OJ L 395, 30.12.1996, p. 13. )).Under this procedure the Commission submitted draft measures to the Standing Veterinary Committee. As a qualified majority did not exist within the Committee, the Commission submitted the draft to the Council on 23 May 1996. The Council had fifteen days in which to take a decision. Unless the Council decided against the measures by a simple majority, the Commission was free to adopt them after that period.The draft Decision submitted by the Commission was voted on by the Council at its meeting on 3 and 4 June 1996. The Council was unable to establish a qualified majority in favour of the draft and noted that a simple majority against the proposed measures did not exist.In these circumstances, the draft was adopted by the Commission on 11 June 1996 in accordance with the procedure.Any questions concerning the substance of the Decision, including its scientific basis and the various language versions, should therefore be addressed to the Commission. Questions relating to the financial aspects are the responsibility of the budgetary authority.Moreover, the attribution of implementing powers to the Commission on public health matters is subject to prior receipt of scientific advice from the competent scientific committee. It is the Commission's responsibility to ensure that the scientific advice provided for by Community legislation is properly given and is taken into account.