WRITTEN QUESTION No. 4012/97 by John IVERSEN to the Commission. Pesticide residues in grapes
Date: 1998-01-14
Institutions: European Parliament, IVERSEN
Subjects: consumer protection, food inspection, foodstuffs legislation, grape, national implementing measure, pesticide residue

2. 10. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 304/7

The  Commission  has  introduced  a  more  rigorous  and  systematic  procedure  for  examining  stagiaires(cid:146)
applications through the creation of preselection groups for each nationality made up of Commission officials of
that nationality.

The  number  of  stagiaires  who  receive  a  grant  is  determined  by  the  budget  available.  The  Commission
2.
would prefer to be in a position to pay all its stagiaires and for this reason wrote to the president of the Parliament
and  the  president  of  the  budgets  committee  on  23  October  1997  to  inform  them  that  it  intends  to  increase
gradually the number of grants available each year from 800 to 1 200 with a view to ensuring that all stagiaires
are paid. This operation will start in 1999 with a request for a 10% increase in the stage budget line A-3200.

There  are  no  national  quotas  for  stagiaires.  A  table  sent  direct  to  the  Honourable  Member  and  to  the

3.
Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat shows the numbers of stagiaires recruited by nationality in 1996 and 1997.

(98/C 304/09)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4012/97

by John Iversen (PSE) to the Commission

(14 January 1998)

Subject: Pesticide residues in grapes

Is the Commission aware that several varieties of European grapes have been discovered on the German market
with more than the permitted pesticide content? O¤ ko Test in Germany tested 30 different grape varieties, several
of which exceeded the permitted pesticide-residue levels, in some cases by over 100%.

Does the Commission believe that existing inspection arrangements are effective in guaranteeing consumers safe
products?

Does the Commission recognize the problem that total pesticide levels in fruit can far exceed the permitted limit
values for individual substances?

What  action  does  the  Commission  intend  to  take  to  ensure  that  consumers  are  not  thus  receiving  such  large
quantities of pesticides when they eat fruit?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(17 February 1998)

The Commission is aware that during 1996 the German authorities examined 188 samples of table grapes and
that pesticide levels above the maximum residue level (MRL) were detected in four of these. In one sample,
residues of two pesticides at levels above their respective MRLs were detected.

The four samples with levels over the MRL were from consignments of grapes produced in Member States and it
is understood that the German authorities informed the authorities of the originating Member State directly of
these infringements.

The Commission considers that the amendments to Directive 90/642/EEC of 27 November 1990 on the fixing of
maximum  levels  for  pesticide  residues  in  and  on  certain  products  of  plant  origin,  including  fruit  and
vegetables (1)  made  by  Council  Directive  97/41/EC  of  25 June  1997  amending  Directives  76/895/EEC,
86/362/EEC, 86/363/EEC and 90/642/EEC relating to the fixing of maximum levels for pesticide residues in and
on, respectively, fruit and vegetables, cereals, foodstuffs of animal origin, and certain products of plan origin,
including  fruit  and  vegetables (2),  due  to  be  implemented  by  the  Member  States  by  31 December  1998,  will
provide a framework for increased effectiveness of the arrangements for inspection and monitoring of pesticide
residues. The Commission intends to make the detailed implementing rules necessary for the proper functioning
of the amended provisions before that date.

(1)  OJ L 350, 14.12.1990.
(2)  OJ L 184, 12.7.1997.