WRITTEN QUESTION No. 923/98 by Mihail PAPAYANNAKIS to the Commission. Packaging of 'feta' cheese
Date: 1998-03-26
Institutions: European Parliament, PAPAYANNAKIS
Subjects: Greece, designation of origin, packaging product, plastics, preparation for market, product quality, sheep's milk cheese, wood product

C 354/40

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

19. 11. 98

(98/C 354/74)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0923/98

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(26 March 1998)

Subject: Packaging of (cid:145)feta(cid:146) cheese

Under the Greek Food and Drink Code, the traditional and widely consumed (cid:145)feta(cid:146) cheese must be packed and
transported only in wooden barrels or metal containers. However, the number of instances is increasing in which
feta  is  instead  sold  in  plastic  containers  both  on  the  domestic  market  and  as  exports  to  other  countries,
particularly to Member States of the Union. Apart from the breach of the Code, there is also the issue of the
effective protection of consumers and public health. Moreover, the unlawful use of plastic containers adversely
affects producers of wooden barrels, a traditional craft which had been encouraged and given hope for the future
by the Code.

Can the Commission investigate this matter and consider whether the use of plastic containers for selling feta
also constitutes a breach of Community consumer law and policy and, if so, can the Commission help to enforce
the above provisions of the Greek Food and Drink Code by making representations to the Greek Government?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(13 May 1998)

The name (cid:145)feta(cid:146) has been registered in the Community as a protected designation of origin under Commission
Regulation (EC) No 1107/96 of 12 June 1996 on the registration of geographical indications and designations of
origin under the procedure laid down in Article 17 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 (1). Registration
means  that  the  Community  has  endorsed  the  binding  specifications  laid  down  for  feta  cheese  by  Greek
ministerial decree No 313025 of 11 January 1994.

Under Article 3(6) of that decree, feta cheese must be sold in either wooden barrels, metal containers, or materials
suitable for coming into contact with foodstuffs.

Accordingly, the Commission cannot object to the plastic containers referred to by the Honourable Member as
long as they meet the criteria laid down by the framework Directive 97/48/EC of 29 July 1997 on materials and
articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs (2) and Commission Directive 96/11/EC of 5 March 1996
amending  Directive  90/128/EEC  relating  to  plastic  materials  and  articles  intended  to  come  into  contact  with
foodstuffs (3).

(1)  OJ L 148, 21.6.1996.
(2)  OJ L 222, 12.8.1997.
(3)  OJ L 61, 12.3.1996.

(98/C 354/75)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0930/98

by Concepcio· Ferrer (PPE) to the Commission

(26 March 1998)

Subject: Payments made for measures in favour of small and medium-sized enterprises

At the end of 1997, only ECU 140 million of the ECU 910 million set aside for the Community SME initiative
had actually been paid out.

Can the Commission say whether these figures are accurate? Can the Commission explain the reasons for this
disparity between commitments and payments? What measures will the Commission take to remedy the disparity
between  commitments  and  payments  made  in  connection  with  Community  measures  for  small  and  medium-
sized enterprises? Can the Commission list the amounts paid to each Member State for each of the measures
designed to favour small and medium-sized enterprises?