WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2561/97 by Patricia McKENNA to the Commission. EU support for the slaughter of calves
Date: 1997-07-24
Institutions: European Parliament, MCKENNA
Subjects: EU aid, Ireland, agro-industry, animal disease, calf, marketing, meat processing industry, slaughter of animals, slaughter premium, veterinary legislation

16. 4. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 117/25

(98/C 117/32)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2561/97

by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Commission

(24 July 1997)

Subject: EU support for the slaughter of calves

An article published in July 1997 by An Bo·rd Bia, the Irish food board, states that over 2.3 million animals have
been killed and taken out of the food chain in response to the BSE crisis. A total of 924 100 of these were calves
less than 20 days old.

Under the EU(cid:146)s calf slaughter scheme, compensation payments have been paid to farmers for each male calf
slaughtered.

Animal welfare and some veterinary groups, including the Irish Veterinary Union, have opposed the scheme,
arguing  that  there  was  no  evidence  that  it  would  help  the  eradication  of  BSE.  These  groups  argued  that  the
random nature of the scheme meant that most of the animals slaughtered would probably not be contaminated
with BSE.

What evaluations has the Commission undertaken of the scheme so far? Has it any evidence to suggest that the
scheme is beneficial in terms of eradicating BSE? In the absence of any such evidence, will it end the scheme?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(10 October 1997)

According  to  information  provided  by  Member  States,  up  to  mid-July  1997,  the  number  of  young  bovines
slaughtered under these measures was about 1 900 000 animals split in the following schemes:

›  exceptional measures for Belgium, France and the Netherlands: 98 500 young veal calves;

›  processing premium: 993 000 male calves;

›  early marketing premium: 808 500 young veal calves.

Only the first scheme which operated between April and July 1996, could be related directly to BSE consumer
fears. It had a beneficial effect on the markets concerned. The aim of the other two schemes is to reduce beef
production, thus helping to restore the beef market balance, either by the exclusion of a certain number of new
born animals from the food chain (the processing premium) or by a reduction of the final weight of commercial
veal (the early marketing premium).

The first scheme is no longer in operation, and the other two schemes were foreseen for two years (December
1996 to December 1998).

The Commission has already presented to the Council an interim report (1) concerning the processing premium
and the early marketing premium. A second report is being prepared.

(1)  COM(97) 165 final.

(98/C 117/33)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2580/97

by Marie-Noe¤lle Lienemann (PSE) to the Commission

(24 July 1997)

Subject: EU-Japan agreement on motor vehicles

What steps will the Commission take to review the EU-Japan agreement on motor vehicles signed in July 1991?

Can the Commission say whether the level of penetration of Japanese cars in Europe has increased significantly
since the agreement was signed?