WRITTEN QUESTION No. 270/98 by Daniel VARELA SUANZES- CARPEGNA to the Commission. Supersession of national commercial rules on the quality of processed products in the Member States by Community law
Date: 1998-02-13
Institutions: European Parliament, VARELA SUANZES-CARPEGNA
Subjects: European standard, fishery product, foodstuffs legislation, marketing standard, preserved product, quality standard

C 323/30

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

21. 10. 98

The Commission provides support (MECU almost 5.5 to date) to civil society organisations and to human rights
monitoring and advocacy groups in Croatia, as well as to independent media, and intends to continue its support
in these fields.

The Honourable Member is further referred to the reply given to written question E-3946/97 by M. Swoboda (1)
and to the Commission(cid:146)s intervention during the debate in plenary concerning human rights and civic society in
Croatia on 18 December 1997.

(1)  OJ C 187, 16.6.1998, p. 99.

(98/C 323/36)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0270/98

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE) to the Commission

(13 February 1998)

Subject: Supersession of national commercial rules on the quality of processed products in the Member States

by Community law

At present, the EU Member States operate different rules and regulations on the quality of processed fisheries
and aquaculture products placed on the market. Some of these market quality rules › as distinguished from those
strictly relating to health and hygiene › are more restrictive in some Member States than in others.

In some cases, the national rules date from before the country concerned joined the Community, which was itself
then organised and structured very differently from how it is today.

Can the Commission state whether these national commercial rules on quality may be considered to have been
superseded by Community law, especially as they imply discrimination between Member States and hinder or
obstruct the marketing and distribution of food products without any justification on health grounds?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission

(22 April 1998)

The commercial quality of preserved fishery and aquaculture products is largely governed by the provisions of
Regulation  (EEC)  No  2136/89  of  21  June  1989  laying  down  common  marketing  standards  for  preserved
sardines (1) and Regulation (EEC) No 1536/92 of 9 June 1992 laying down common marketing standards for
preserved tuna and bonito (2).

These provisions are binding in all Member States and invalidate any national standard which would not be in
conformity with the above Community legislation.

(1)  OJ L 212, 22.7.1989.
(2)  OJ L 163, 17.6.1992.

(98/C 323/37)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0297/98

by Leonie van Bladel (UPE) to the Council

(17 February 1998)

Subject: Putting an end to terrorist activities planned in London

1.
Can the Council President indicate how attacks were planned by groups who originated in Algeria, Bahrain
and Egypt but used London as a base for plotting terrorist attacks to be carried out in the various countries?

2.

Is the Council President prepared to indicate how an end might be put to the situation described above?