WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2581/97 by Giuseppe RAUTI to the Commission. Forcible importation into Europe of US meat containing hormones
Date: 1997-07-24
Institutions: European Parliament, RAUTI
Subjects: United States, World Trade Organisation, health control, health legislation, hormone, import (EU), import restriction, meat

C 82/112

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

17. 3. 98

Following the results of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) parliamentary inquiry, the Commission
transferred  responsibility  for  veterinary  control  from  the  Directorate  general  for  agriculture  (DG  VI)  to  the
Directorate general for consumer policy and consumer health protection (DG XXIV).

The Commission is fully aware of the importance of prompt and vigorous action in response to this situation to
ensure that a high level of protection for animal and public health is ensured and that consumer confidence is
maintained. To this end, all Member States are being kept informed of progress in the investigation, so that a
coordinated approach can be followed.

The Commission will ensure that the Parliament continues to be informed of developments.

(98/C 82/185)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2581/97

by Giuseppe Rauti (NI) to the Commission

(24 July 1997)

Subject: Forcible importation into Europe of US meat containing hormones

Can  the  Commission  say  what  the  current  situation  is  as  regards  the  United  States(cid:146)  insistent  and  threatening
requests to import into Europe meat produced from cattle which have been treated with hormones?

Not least because of the opinion of its Scientific Committees the European Union has so far been opposed to
these requests, but now the World Trade Organization (WTO) has declared European opposition to be (cid:145)contrary
to the rules of international free trade(cid:146).

Can the Commission say whether and, if so, how the European Union will continue to uphold its belief that the
use of hormones in stock breeding, as practised in the United States, is seriously harmful to human health?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(18 September 1997)

On 30 June 1997, the World trade organisation (WTO) panel notified the parties of its final reports on hormones
meat. Effectively, the panel reports find violation of three provisions of the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS)
Agreement  by  the  Community  directives  prohibiting  the  use  of  hormones  for  animal  growth  promotion.  A
decision has been taken to appeal from the panel(cid:146)s reports. Until there is a definitive ruling on this matter under
the WTO dispute settlement process (probably not before November 1997), it is not possible to indicate what
course of action might be open to the Community. If the panel(cid:146)s conclusions are upheld by the appellate body of
the WTO, the Community will still have a (cid:145)reasonable period(cid:146) to decide its options.

The Commission will continue to invoke the precautionary principle in support of its claims and to defend the
position  that  the  Community(cid:146)s  right  to  decide  what  level  of  sanitary  protection  it  deems  appropriate  for  its
citizens be fully recognised by the SPS Agreement.

(98/C 82/186)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2584/97

by Hilde Hawlicek (PSE) to the Commission

(29 July 1997)

Subject: Extension of education programmes to countries in Central and Eastern Europe

As from 1998 it is intended that the Socrates and Leonardo programmes should be extended to the countries of
Central and Eastern Europe.

What measures is the Commission taking to ensure that pupils and students from EU Member States taking part
in programmes in Central and Eastern European countries have a command of those countries(cid:146) languages?