WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2421/97 by Joan VALLVÉ to the Commission. Outbreaks of swine fever in the region of Lleida
Date: 1997-07-11
Institutions: European Parliament, VALLVE
Subjects: Spain, animal plague, export restriction, pigmeat, swine, veterinary inspection

C 82/72

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

17. 3. 98

On  the  basis  of  the  declarations  of  interest  submitted  to  it,  the  Commission  has  no  reason  to  doubt  the
independence of the advice given by any member of the SCF on questions relating in particular to baby food or to
any other matter on which the Committee has expressed an opinion.

The Commission confirms its commitment to a policy of maximum transparency in the work of its scientific
committees but regrets that it is not able to make publicly available declarations of interest which were made to it
in confidence under the previous rules of procedure.

Following the reorganisation of the Commission’s services responsible for various aspects of consumer health
protection, all of the Commission’s scientific committees were transferred to DG XXIV (Consumer policy and
consumer health protection) with effect from 1 April 1997. In accordance with the Commission’s communica-
tion (2) which placed emphasis on the fundamental requirements for excellence, independence and transparency
in the operation of these committees, common rules governing the selection of the members and conduct of the
committees, including declarations of interest, have been decided by the Commission in the decision of 23 July
1997 setting up scientific committees in the field of consumer health and food safety.

(1)  OJ L 167, 18.7.1995.
(2)  COM(97) 183 final.

(98/C 82/122)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2421/97

by Joan Vallve· (ELDR) to the Commission

(11 July 1997)

Subject: Outbreaks of swine fever in the region of Lleida

Following the outbreaks of classical swine fever recently detected in the region of Lleida and the subsequent visit
by  members  of  the  Standing  Veterinary  Committee,  the  Commission  enacted  Decision  97/285/EC (1)  laying
down the specific conditions for intra-Community trade in pigmeat and live pigs originating exclusively from the
areas in question.

The various Member States have accordingly adapted their trade in pigs and pigmeat with Spain in line with the
Decision, with the exception of Portugal, which has unilaterally closed its borders to all trade in pigmeat and
pigmeat  products  originating  not  only  from  the  above-mentioned  areas  but  also  from  Catalonia  as  a  whole,
thereby jeopardizing the free movement of goods.

What  steps  has  the  Commission  taken  or  does  it  intend  to  take  to  ensure  compliance  with  this  fundamental
principle on which the European Union is based?

(1)  OJ L 114, 1.5.1997, p. 47.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(9 September 1997)

By  Commission  Decision  97/285/EC (1)  certain  protective  measures  were  adopted  to  prevent  the  spread  of
classical swine fever virus from an area of Spain consisting of Urgell, Noguera, Segria‘ and Garrigues.

The Commission has recently been informed about unilateral measures adopted by Portugal due to the disease
situation in Lerida. The Commission will investigate the matter.

(1)  OJ L 114, 1.5.1997.