WRITTEN QUESTION No. 523/98 by Susan WADDINGTON to the Commission. The use of agricultural intervention stocks - fruit and vegetables
Date: 1998-03-02
Institutions: European Parliament, WADDINGTON
Subjects: EU aid, common organisation of markets, delivery, educational institution, fruit, intervention stock, producer organisation, production surplus, vegetable, voluntary organisation

2. 10. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 304/125

(98/C 304/188)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0522/98

by Shaun Spiers (PSE) to the Commission

(2 March 1998)

Subject: Welfare of animals at slaughter

When does the Commission intend to bring forward proposals on improving the welfare of animals at slaughter?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(16 March 1998)

Article 13 of Directive 93/119/EC on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter or killing (1) requires the
Commission to submit to the Council a report drawn up on the basis of an opinion from the scientific veterinary
committee together with appropriate proposals concerning the use, in particular, of free bullet pistols, gases or
combinations thereof for stunning or killing and other scientific recognized procedure for stunning or killing. It is
the intention of the Commission to present the report together with appropriate proposals to the Council in the
near future.

(1)  OJ L 340, 31.12.1993.

(98/C 304/189)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0523/98

by Susan Waddington (PSE) to the Commission

(2 March 1998)

Subject: The use of agricultural intervention stocks › fruit and vegetables

Following press claims that millions of kilograms of vegetables and fruit surpluses are being wasted, rather than
being  consumed  by  schools  across  the  Union,  what  measures  are  the  Commission  taking  to  publicise  the
availability of fruit and vegetable surpluses to schools?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(2 April 1998)

Council Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 (1) provides for fruit withdrawn from the market to be distributed free to
schools.  The  free  distribution  of  fruit  and  vegetables  for  other  purposes  is  also  possible,  to  charities  and
institutions such as hospitals and prisons, for example.

To  publicise  that  initiative  Member  States  are  to  inform  and  help  to  establish  contacts  between  producer
organisations and the schools or other institutions likely to help in the free distribution of the products.

However,  high  transport  costs  and  the  nature  of  the  products  require  that  such  distribution  be  local.  The
Community,  wishing  to  support  the  distribution  of  withdrawn  products,  will  take  over  some  of  the  costs,  in
particular  the  cost  of  transport  between  the  withdrawal  location  and  the  delivery  point,  and  also  sorting  and
packaging costs (in the case of citrus fruits and apples).

For the 1997/98 marketing year one-off aid is also available for the preparation of withdrawn products to allow
producer organisations to deliver them to schools and institutions.

Producer organisations withdrawing products must first make such products available for free distribution before
they can be sent for biodegradation.

(1)  OJ L 297, 28.10.1996.