Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the 'Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive amending Directive 64/432/EEC on health problems affecting intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine'
Date: 1998-05-27
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: EU market, common organisation of markets, competition law, fishery product, fishing industry

27.7.98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 235/59

Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Proposal for a European Parliament
and Council Directive amending Directive 64/432/EEC on health problems affecting intra-
Community trade in bovine animals and swine’ (1)

(98/C 235/13)

On 9 March 1998 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee,
under Articles 43 and 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the
above-mentioned proposal.

The Section for Agriculture and Fisheries, which was responsible for preparing the Committee’s
work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 12 May 1998. The rapporteur was Mr Pricolo.

At its 355th plenary session (meeting of 27 May 1998), the Economic and Social Committee
adopted the following opinion by 106 votes to four, with five abstentions.

1. Foreword

mittee procedure) responsible for devising implementing
rules for the operation of the computer databases.

1.1.
The BSE crisis caused widespread alarm and
sapped consumer confidence in beef and beef products.
The Community was quick to devise a legislative
response, and in April 1997 the Council adopted Direc-
tive 97/12/EC. This directive updated Directive
64/432/EEC by setting up a computerized database on
bovine animals and swine and their movements.

1.2.
In tandem with the adoption of Direc-
tive 97/12/EC, on 21 April 1997 the Council approved
Regulation (EC) No 820/97 establishing a system for the
identification and registration of bovine animals and
regarding the labelling of beef and beef products.

1.3.
The aim of these instruments was twofold: firstly,
to enable Member States quickly and effectively to
exchange information on the identity of animals, their
movements and the farms concerned; secondly, to
introduce ear-tags and animal passports as a way of
tracing the farms or other establishments through which
the animal had passed.

1.4.
It should be noted that the two instruments,
which are closely interlinked, form part of the machinery
enabling appropriate communication between the farm-
er and the database, and full use of the base itself.

2. The Commission proposals

The Commission’s proposed amendment makes
2.1.
the Standing Veterinary Committee (Commission/Com-

(1) OJ C 100, 2.4.1998, p. 23.

2.2.
The proposal thus concerns procedural rather
than substantive changes, designed to involve one of the
Commission’s advisory bodies in the administration of
this area.

3. Comments

3.1.
The Committee notes that one year after the
adoption of Directive 97/12/EC and Regulation (EC)
No 820/97, the computer database giving an animal’s
identity, farm and movements is obviously not yet
operative.

The fact that the Commission is now proposing
3.2.
the establishment of implementing rules for the computer
database on bovine animals and swine leads the Com-
mittee to think that Community rules in this field have
not been properly applied hitherto.

3.3.
This delay casts doubt on the credibility of the
Community and/or national authorities and hardly
helps to restore consumer confidence.

3.4.
The Committee asks the Commission to present
a progress report on EU-wide implementation of both
Directive 97/12/EC and Regulation (EC) No 820/97.

3.4.1.
The Committee also asks that interested parties
be guaranteed appropriate access to the computerized
data network. Here the Committee is thinking of
farmers’, traders’ and consumer organizations which
have a special interest recognized by their Member State.

3.5. Nevertheless, given that the computerized system
has not yet been properly implemented, the Committee
supports the Commission proposal on the grounds that

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EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

27.7.98

the overriding concern remains the protection of public
health.

3.5.1. However, the Committee deeply regrets that
the Community rules on health problems in intra-

Community trade in bovine animals have not been fully
implemented, and again calls on the Commission to
draw up the report mentioned in 3.4 above and submit
it to the other EU institutions.

Brussels, 27 May 1998.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Tom JENKINS

Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Proposal for a Council Decision on
the Community Statistical Programme 1998-2002’

(98/C 235/14)

On 31 March 1998 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, in
accordance with Article 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the
above-mentioned proposal.

The Section for Economic, Financial and Monetary Questions, which was responsible for
preparing the Committee’s work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 12 May 1998. The
rapporteur was Mr Vasco Cal.

At its 355th plenary session held on 27 and 28 May 1998 (meeting of 27 May), the Economic
and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 118 votes for, none against and with
five abstentions.

1.

Introduction

1.1.
The Commission is presenting its fifth five-year
programme prepared by Eurostat. The programme will
be the subject of a Council Decision in accordance with
Article 3(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 322/97
on Community statistics. Regulation (EC) No 322/97
stipulates that the Community should have timely access
to statistical information which is comparable between
the Member States and is up-to-date, reliable, relevant
and produced as efficiently as possible for the design,
implementation, monitoring and evaluation of its poli-
cies.

1.2.
Regulation (EC) No 322/97 also stipulates that
the Community’s statistical programme must define the
‘approaches, the main fields and the objectives of the
actions envisaged for a period not exceeding five years’.
The Commission continues this policy in its present
programme by setting itself the objective of ‘providing
the European Union with a high-quality statistical
information service’, and rising to three challenges, viz.:
meeting the needs of Community policies, improving
cooperation between Eurostat and national statistical
services (which together form the Community Statistical
Service (CSS), and fixing priorities.

The Commission identifies four categories of

1.3.
priorities:

— policy priorities of the Community;

— major statistical or infrastructure projects;

— evolutionary maintenance of systems supporting

existing policy needs;

— other statistical indicators required.

The programme will cost between EURO 83 and

1.4.
95 million per year.

The programme spells out proposed action in

1.5.
the following key areas:

— Free movement of goods;

— Agriculture;

— Free movement of persons, services and capital;