WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1311/97 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. Identification of bovine animals and beef products
Date: 1997-04-11
Institutions: AMADEO, European Parliament
Subjects: beef, cattle, consumer information, database, labelling, meat product

22. 1. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 21/39

(98/C 21/114)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1311/97

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(11 April 1997)

Subject: Identification of bovine animals and beef products

The  Commission  has  submitted  a  proposal  for  a  Council  Regulation  (EC)  establishing  a  system  for  the
identification and registration of bovine animals and a proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) regarding the
labelling of beef and beef products (COM(96) 460 final › 96/0228/0229 CNS) (1) (CES 1404/96 › 96/0228/0229
CNS).

The new system will include the labelling of beef and beef products. Although the labelling of such products will
be optional, the information that each operator or organization decides to indicate on the label (region of birth,
method  of  fattening,  slaughter  and  feeding  details,  etc.)  must  first  be  approved  by  the  competent  national
authorities.

Overall, the proposal for a regulation regarding the labelling of beef and beef products is satisfactory, given that
it  will  provide  many  consumers  with  the  information  they  require  and  therefore  make  a  major  contribution
towards re-establishing confidence in European beef.

The Commission is asked to make indication of the origin of beef compulsory since this is only way of restoring
consumer confidence in the long term.

(1)  OJ C 349, 20.11.1996, p. 14.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(28 May 1997)

According to Council Regulation (EC) No 820/97 establishing a system for the identification and registration of
bovine animals and regarding the labelling of beef and beef products, which was adopted by the Council on
21  April  1997 (1),  a  compulsory  beef  labelling  system  shall  be  introduced  which  shall  be  obligatory  in  all
Member  States  from  1  January  2000,  with  the  compulsory  indications  of  the  Member  State  or  third  country
where the animal from which the beef is derived was born, the Member States or third countries where the animal
was raised and the Member State or third country where the animal was slaughtered. However, this compulsory
system shall not exclude the possibility for a Member State to apply the system merely on an optional basis to
beef sold in that same Member State. A transitional voluntary labelling system shall be introduced until the end
of  1999.  In  Member  States  where  there  is  a  sufficiently  developed  identification  and  registration  system  for
bovine animals, a compulsory labelling system may be introduced before 1 January 2000, for beef from animals
born, raised and slaughtered in their territory.

(1)  OJ L 117, 7.5.1997.

(98/C 21/115)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1313/97

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(11 April 1997)

Subject: New technologies and employment

Following  the  submission  of  (cid:145)The  impact  of  the  introduction  of  new  technologies  on  employment(cid:146)  (CES
1403/96), it must be said that the ever-increasing impact of new technologies on growth and employment is likely
to increase social exclusion and regional marginalization. This situation calls for the introduction of vigorous
policies to provide support for less-qualified workers and young people looking for their first job, since these are
the  most  economically  vulnerable  groups  and  those  most  prone  to  long-term  unemployment.  Combating
marginalization is even more important in respect of those least-favoured regions in which the problems caused
by geographical remoteness are aggravated by a lack of proper structures and infrastructure linked up by means
of a network with the rest of the European Union, and by technological disparities which are far worse than any
economic disparities. In line with the priorities laid down in respect of economic and social cohesion in the EU,
responsibility  for  technological  development  must  be  taken  at  different  levels:  Community,  national  and
regional.

The Commission  is therefore  asked to  combine action  under  the Community(cid:146)s  R&TD  policy with  Structural
Fund operations as effectively as possible.