do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2153/97 by Hiltrud BREYER to the Commission. Novel food regulation No 258/97 - Submission of DNA reference samples by applicants for a product (SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER)
Date: 1997-06-23
Institutions: BREYER, European Parliament
Subjects: crop production, disclosure of information, food inspection, foodstuffs legislation, genetically modified organism, human nutrition, new product

8. 6. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 174/5

(98/C 174/17)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2147/97

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(23 June 1997)

Subject: Novel  food  regulation  No  258/97  ›  Sanctions  in  the  event  of  failure  to  comply  with  the  labelling

requirements

1. What punitive measures are provided for in the event of failure to comply with the labelling requirements?

2.

Is there a list of fixed penalties?

(98/C 174/18)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2149/97

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(23 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 › Varieties directive

1.
In the event of authorization for a plant variety pursuant to the varieties directive which does not require
approval pursuant to the novel food regulation (1), is labelling of this variety › which is required pursuant to the
novel food directive › guaranteed in the case of sale of seeds?

How is this labelling maintained if the seed is passed on or if seedlings are sold (e.g. special packages or

2.
stickers in the case of sale to private or commercial users)?

Is  the  intention  to  revise  the  varieties  directive  so  as  to  guarantee  labelling  pursuant  to  the  novel  food

3.
regulation?

(1)  OJ L 43, 14.2.1997, p. 1.

(98/C 174/19)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2151/97

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(23 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 › Labelling information

What sort of information should the labelling provide, and in what form?

(98/C 174/20)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2153/97

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(23 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 › Submission of DNA reference samples by applicants for a product

Is there any provision for manufacturers of genetically engineered food to submit to the supervisory bodies the
information  they  need  to  perform  their  tasks  (e.g.  information  on  the  detailed  structure  of  the  genetically
engineered matter)?

(98/C 174/21)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2155/97

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(23 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 › Form and content of labelling

1. What form will the labelling take for goods sold loose (e.g. fruit and vegetables)?

2. What form will the labelling take for processed goods, which consist largely of products for which labelling
is obligatory (e.g. preserved products and tomato concentrate)?
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2108/97 by Gérard CAUDRON to the Commission. Making Commission information brochures available to MEPs
Date: 1997-06-23
Institutions: CAUDRON, European Parliament
Subjects: EU publication, Member of the European Parliament, Publications Office of the European Union, access to EU information, dissemination of EU information, public awareness campaign

25. 2. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 60/99

(98/C 60/142)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2108/97

by Ge·rard Caudron (PSE) to the Commission

(23 June 1997)

Subject: Making Commission information brochures available to MEPs

Members  of  the  European  Parliament  serve  as  an  important  channel  for  information  about  Europe  in  their
respective constituencies. Conferences, visits to schools and official openings of facilities all offer the chance to
distribute information brochures drawn up by the Commission and printed by the Publications Office.

Although these brochures are of great value and have proved very successful, it is difficult to obtain them in any
quantity.

Commission  offices  in  the  Member  States  do  not  seem  to  have  them  available  in  sufficient  quantities  for
widespread  distribution.  In  addition,  Members  are  sometimes  asked  to  pay  for  these  brochures  themselves,
which seems unusual.

How can large quantities of these brochures be obtained?

Will the Commission remind its offices in the Member States of their obligations to Members of the European
Parliament?

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission

(1 August 1997)

The Commission is gratified that the Honourable Member thinks so highly of its brochures.

Information brochures are generally intended for the public at large and are handed out free of charge except in
the rare cases where the technical nature of the subject matter justifies a charge being made.

These brochures are distributed in response to demand from, among others, the Parliament and the Commission’s
offices and delegations, which are systematically consulted and which generally receive the number of copies
requested. Naturally, after a certain time, stocks may be exhausted.

The  Commission  will  remind  its  offices  in  the  Member  States  that  they  should  pay  the  greatest  attention  to
requests from Members of Parliament.

(98/C 60/143)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2113/97

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(23 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 › Authorization for varieties

Is it true that if genetically modified plants are registered in the common list of varieties for agricultural
1.
plant varieties (70/457/EEC) (1) (FN) and for seeds (70/458/EEC) (2) (FN) no further approval is required for
these plants under the novel food regulation (3) (FN)?

2.

If this is the case, will only the labelling of such plants bed covered by the novel food regulation?

(1)  OJ L 225, 12.10.1970, p. 1.
(2)  OJ L 225, 12.10.1970, p. 7.
(3)  OJ L 43, 14.2.1997, p. 1.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2135/97 by Hiltrud BREYER to the Commission. Novel food regulation No 258/97 - Requirements for authorization: checking information supplied by manufacturers
Date: 1997-06-23
Institutions: BREYER, European Parliament
Subjects: consumer information, consumer protection, crop production, environmental protection, food inspection, foodstuffs legislation, genetically modified organism, human nutrition, labelling, new product

25. 2. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 60/109

(98/C 60/185)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2199/97

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(25 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 › Recording data on novel food products

What authorities are responsible, pursuant to the novel food regulation, for recording data in databases on all
products which are approved or which have been registered?

(98/C 60/186)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2201/97

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(25 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 › Access to data on novel food products

Will there be public access to these data banks, or will some data be subject to confidentiality?

(98/C 60/187)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2203/97

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(25 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 › Publication of data on novel food products

Will both the scientific data that have been submitted and the evaluation of such data be published?

(98/C 60/188)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2205/97

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(25 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 › Transparency of authorizations of novel food products

1.

2.

How will the requisite level of long-term public transparency and information be guaranteed?

Are the consumer organizations to be informed of all the products that have been authorized?

3. What guarantees are there that this information will be complete and up-to-date?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-2113/97, E-2115/97, E-2117/97, E-2119/97,
E-2121/97, E-2123/97, E-2127/97, E-2129/97, E-2131/97, E-2133/97, E-2135/97, E-2137/97,
E-2139/97, E-2141/97, E-2143/97, E-2145/97, E-2147/97, E-2149/97, E-2151/97, E-2153/97,
E-2155/97, E-2157/97, E-2159/97, E-2161/97, E-2163/97, E-2165/97, E-2167/97, E-2169/97,
E-2171/97, E-2173/97, E-2175/97, E-2177/97, E-2179/97, E-2181/97, E-2183/97, E-2185/97,
E-2187/97, E-2189/97, E-2191/97, E-2193/97, E-2195/97, E-2197/97, E-2199/97, E-2201/97,
E-2203/97 and E-2205/97
given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(17 September 1997)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as
soon as possible.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2133/97 by Hiltrud BREYER to the Commission. Novel food regulation No 258/97 - Requirements for authorization: checking information supplied by manufacturers (SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER)
Date: 1997-06-23
Institutions: BREYER, European Parliament
Subjects: consumer protection, crop production, environmental protection, food inspection, foodstuffs legislation, genetically modified organism, human nutrition, labelling, marketing, new product

8. 6. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 174/3

2.

If not, how will national and EU authorities be informed of the market launch of such products?

How can these authorities test whether there is an obligation to label such products pursuant to the novel

3.
food regulation?

(1)  OJ L 43, 14.2.1997, p. 1.

(98/C 174/09)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2131/97

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(23 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 › Requirements for authorization

What exactly are the test criteria, in accordance with which applications for authorization for products under the
novel food regulation (1) have to be assessed to see whether permission is required or whether simple registration
will be deemed to be sufficient if the manufacturer has not applied for permission?

(1)  OJ L 43, 14.2.1997, p. 1.

(98/C 174/10)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2133/97

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(23 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 › Requirements for authorization: checking information supplied by

manufacturers

1. What information is supposed to be used as the basis for assessment?

2.

Is there provision for independent testing of the data submitted by manufacturers?

(98/C 174/11)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2135/97

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(23 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 › Requirements for authorization: checking information supplied by

manufacturers

1.

Is the information supplied by manufacturers to be checked, at least on a sample basis?

2.
If so, how will the risk of allergies be assessed in products, the novel ingredients of which have hitherto not
normally been consumed or have not usually been contained in foodstuffs (e.g. proteins from bacteria from hot
springs?

(98/C 174/12)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2137/97

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(23 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 › Genetically produced enzymes and additives

Are  there  plans  for  activities  for  the  European  Union  aimed  at  plugging  the  existing  legislative  gaps  for  the
authorization of enzymes or additives produced with the aid of genetically modified micro-organisms which are
not converted by either the novel food regulation or the additives regulation?
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2119/97 by Hiltrud BREYER to the Commission. Novel food regulation No 258/97 - Authorization of varieties (SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER)
Date: 1997-06-23
Institutions: BREYER, European Parliament
Subjects: consumer protection, crop production, environmental protection, food inspection, foodstuffs legislation, genetically modified organism, human nutrition, labelling, marketing, new product

C 174/2

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

8. 6. 98

(98/C 174/04)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2119/97

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(23 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 › Authorization of varieties

Will secondary products of plants already covered by variety authorization needed to be tested and authorized
individually pursuant to the novel food regulation (1)?

(1)  OJ L 43, 14.2.1997, p. 1.

(98/C 174/05)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2121/97

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(23 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 › Authorization requirements

Will secondary products which contain only a small, percentage of plant products requiring authorization need to
undergo separate authorization (e.g. tomato concentrate in ready made pizzas)?

(98/C 174/06)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2123/97

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(23 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 › Testing the health and environmental impact

When new genetically modified varieties are entered in the common list of varieties which require neither an
authorization pursuant to the novel food regulation (1)  nor  an authorization pursuant to the  deliberate release
directive (2), what form does testing of health conformity and the ecological effects tasks?

(1)  OJ L 43, 14.2.1997, p. 1.
(2)  OJ L 117, 8.5.1990, p. 15.

(98/C 174/07)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2127/97

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(23 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 › (cid:145)Substantial equivalence(cid:146) in derived varieties

1. What  guarantees  will  there  be  that  the  (cid:145)substantial  equivalence(cid:146)  of  all  plants  of  the  same  tested  and
authorized line remain present, or that they can be tested?

2. What will be the approach towards derived varieties?

(98/C 174/08)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2129/97

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(23 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 › Reporting

1. Will  new  or  unmodified  products  which  do  not  have  to  be  authorized,  pursuant  to  the  novel  food
regulation (1), be subject to a reporting obligation?
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2119/97 by Hiltrud BREYER to the Commission. Novel food regulation No 258/97 - Authorization of varieties
Date: 1997-06-23
Institutions: BREYER, European Parliament
Subjects: consumer information, consumer protection, crop production, environmental protection, food inspection, foodstuffs legislation, genetically modified organism, human nutrition, labelling, new product

25. 2. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 60/109

(98/C 60/185)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2199/97

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(25 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 › Recording data on novel food products

What authorities are responsible, pursuant to the novel food regulation, for recording data in databases on all
products which are approved or which have been registered?

(98/C 60/186)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2201/97

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(25 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 › Access to data on novel food products

Will there be public access to these data banks, or will some data be subject to confidentiality?

(98/C 60/187)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2203/97

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(25 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 › Publication of data on novel food products

Will both the scientific data that have been submitted and the evaluation of such data be published?

(98/C 60/188)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2205/97

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(25 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 › Transparency of authorizations of novel food products

1.

2.

How will the requisite level of long-term public transparency and information be guaranteed?

Are the consumer organizations to be informed of all the products that have been authorized?

3. What guarantees are there that this information will be complete and up-to-date?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-2113/97, E-2115/97, E-2117/97, E-2119/97,
E-2121/97, E-2123/97, E-2127/97, E-2129/97, E-2131/97, E-2133/97, E-2135/97, E-2137/97,
E-2139/97, E-2141/97, E-2143/97, E-2145/97, E-2147/97, E-2149/97, E-2151/97, E-2153/97,
E-2155/97, E-2157/97, E-2159/97, E-2161/97, E-2163/97, E-2165/97, E-2167/97, E-2169/97,
E-2171/97, E-2173/97, E-2175/97, E-2177/97, E-2179/97, E-2181/97, E-2183/97, E-2185/97,
E-2187/97, E-2189/97, E-2191/97, E-2193/97, E-2195/97, E-2197/97, E-2199/97, E-2201/97,
E-2203/97 and E-2205/97
given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(17 September 1997)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as
soon as possible.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2147/97 by Hiltrud BREYER to the Commission. Novel food regulation No 258/97 - Sanctions in the event of failure to comply with the labelling requirements (SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER)
Date: 1997-06-23
Institutions: BREYER, European Parliament
Subjects: competence of the Member States, crop production, foodstuffs legislation, genetically modified organism, human nutrition, infringement of EU law, labelling, new product

8. 6. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 174/5

(98/C 174/17)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2147/97

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(23 June 1997)

Subject: Novel  food  regulation  No  258/97  ›  Sanctions  in  the  event  of  failure  to  comply  with  the  labelling

requirements

1. What punitive measures are provided for in the event of failure to comply with the labelling requirements?

2.

Is there a list of fixed penalties?

(98/C 174/18)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2149/97

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(23 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 › Varieties directive

1.
In the event of authorization for a plant variety pursuant to the varieties directive which does not require
approval pursuant to the novel food regulation (1), is labelling of this variety › which is required pursuant to the
novel food directive › guaranteed in the case of sale of seeds?

How is this labelling maintained if the seed is passed on or if seedlings are sold (e.g. special packages or

2.
stickers in the case of sale to private or commercial users)?

Is  the  intention  to  revise  the  varieties  directive  so  as  to  guarantee  labelling  pursuant  to  the  novel  food

3.
regulation?

(1)  OJ L 43, 14.2.1997, p. 1.

(98/C 174/19)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2151/97

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(23 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 › Labelling information

What sort of information should the labelling provide, and in what form?

(98/C 174/20)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2153/97

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(23 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 › Submission of DNA reference samples by applicants for a product

Is there any provision for manufacturers of genetically engineered food to submit to the supervisory bodies the
information  they  need  to  perform  their  tasks  (e.g.  information  on  the  detailed  structure  of  the  genetically
engineered matter)?

(98/C 174/21)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2155/97

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(23 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 › Form and content of labelling

1. What form will the labelling take for goods sold loose (e.g. fruit and vegetables)?

2. What form will the labelling take for processed goods, which consist largely of products for which labelling
is obligatory (e.g. preserved products and tomato concentrate)?
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2153/97 by Hiltrud BREYER to the Commission. Novel food regulation No 258/97 - Submission of DNA reference samples by applicants for a product
Date: 1997-06-23
Institutions: BREYER, European Parliament
Subjects: consumer information, consumer protection, crop production, environmental protection, food inspection, foodstuffs legislation, genetically modified organism, human nutrition, labelling, new product

25. 2. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 60/109

(98/C 60/185)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2199/97

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(25 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 › Recording data on novel food products

What authorities are responsible, pursuant to the novel food regulation, for recording data in databases on all
products which are approved or which have been registered?

(98/C 60/186)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2201/97

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(25 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 › Access to data on novel food products

Will there be public access to these data banks, or will some data be subject to confidentiality?

(98/C 60/187)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2203/97

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(25 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 › Publication of data on novel food products

Will both the scientific data that have been submitted and the evaluation of such data be published?

(98/C 60/188)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2205/97

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(25 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 › Transparency of authorizations of novel food products

1.

2.

How will the requisite level of long-term public transparency and information be guaranteed?

Are the consumer organizations to be informed of all the products that have been authorized?

3. What guarantees are there that this information will be complete and up-to-date?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-2113/97, E-2115/97, E-2117/97, E-2119/97,
E-2121/97, E-2123/97, E-2127/97, E-2129/97, E-2131/97, E-2133/97, E-2135/97, E-2137/97,
E-2139/97, E-2141/97, E-2143/97, E-2145/97, E-2147/97, E-2149/97, E-2151/97, E-2153/97,
E-2155/97, E-2157/97, E-2159/97, E-2161/97, E-2163/97, E-2165/97, E-2167/97, E-2169/97,
E-2171/97, E-2173/97, E-2175/97, E-2177/97, E-2179/97, E-2181/97, E-2183/97, E-2185/97,
E-2187/97, E-2189/97, E-2191/97, E-2193/97, E-2195/97, E-2197/97, E-2199/97, E-2201/97,
E-2203/97 and E-2205/97
given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(17 September 1997)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as
soon as possible.