WRITTEN QUESTION No. 950/97 by Niels KOFOED to the Commission. Seed certification - Council Directive 66/401/ EEC of 14 June 1966 on the marketing of fodder plant seeds (SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER)
Date: 1997-03-05
Institutions: European Parliament, KOFOED
Subjects: Community certification, Denmark, EU aid, application of EU law, company law, fodder plant, marketing standard, national law, private sector, seed

10. 2. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 45/9

On 23 January 1997 the Commission adopted the Decision only after the scientific basis of its original proposal
had  been  validated  by  the  scientific  committees  for  food,  animal  nutrition  and  pesticides.  These  committees
examined in depth the particular aspects that were causing concern to certain Member States and in December
1996 delivered their opinions unanimously. All three committees confirmed that there was no reason to believe
that  there  would  be  any  adverse  effects  on  human  health  and  the  environment  associated  with  the  genetic
modification  in  maize.  None  of  the  scientific  committees  that  examined  the  dossier  and  all  the  information
available found any scientific evidence of long term risks for human health and the environment from the genes
introduced in maize. The opinions of the three scientific committees were officially transmitted to the Parliament
on 20 February 1997 and they will be published by the Commission.

(1)  OJ L 31, 1.2.1997.
(2)  OJ L 117, 8.5.1990.
(3)  OJ L 225, 12.10.1970.

(98/C 45/11)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0906/97

by Umberto Bossi (NI) to the Commission

(12 March 1997)

Subject: Permitted maximum quantity of residues in certain fish species: situation in the various Member States

In the light of the somewhat vague answer to my Written Question P-0385/97 (1), will the Commission now say
which  Member  States  have  imposed  maximum  limits  on  the  levels  of  the  organochlorine  antiparasitic  agent
known as DDT present in certain fish species? What is the maximum permitted concentration of DDT in each
Member State?

(1)  OJ C 217, 17.7.1997, p. 170.

Supplementary answer
given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(1 July 1997)

In reply to the question posed by the Honourable Member concerning the fixing of statutory maximum pesticide
residue levels (MRLs) for Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) in certain types of fish, the Commission can
report that for the majority of Member States, no national MRLs are fixed for DDT.

For the minority of Member States which do fix MRLs for DDT in fish, the term (cid:145)fish(cid:146) applies to fresh and salt
water species.

A detailed overview (Member State by Member State) is sent to the Honourable Member and to the Secretariat
general of the Parliament.

(98/C 45/12)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0950/97

by Niels Kofoed (ELDR) to the Commission

(5 March 1997)

Subject: Seed certification › Council Directive 66/401/EEC of 14 June 1966 on the marketing of fodder plant

seeds

Can the Danish State oppose the testing of seeds at officially recognized (ISTA) test stations in other Member
States as a prerequisite for the payment of EU support and the approval of seeds for certification?