WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1924/98 by Alan DONNELLY to the Commission. Health and safety laws on tourist sites
Date: 1998-06-18
Institutions: DONNELLY ALAN, European Parliament
Subjects: camping, competence of the Member States, consumer information, consumer protection, health legislation, product safety, public health, safety standard, tourist infrastructure

19. 11. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 354/127

2.
The tender specifications require bulls to be progeny-tested and proof that cows have produced 4 800 kg
and  5 300  kg  of  milk  in  their  first  and  second  lactations  respectively.  Is  the  Commission  aware  that  this
requirement is no longer being applied or has been relaxed, so that cows have been selected which produced as
little as 4 200 kg of milk during their first and only lactation, and/or milk production of 4 500 kg and 4 700 kg has
been required in the case of second and third lactations?

3.
Besides blood tests, the animal health requirements specify that at least 40 animals must be assembled for
presentation to the selection committee. This means that exporters have to keep animals in special lairage for at
least 60 days longer than is normal, which is very costly. Does the Commission take the view that this measure is
still necessary for the conduct of veterinary controls?

4.
In the invitation to tender, the breed is stipulated as (cid:145)red and white dual-purpose(cid:146). Is the Commission aware
that  farmers  in  Bosnia-Herzegovina  would  mainly  like  to  buy  Simmentals,  but  that  this  invitation  to  tender
discriminates precisely against such breeds?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(15 June 1998)

The research undertaken by the Commission to answer the Honourable Member(cid:146)s question has revealed that this
is  a  very  extensive  and  complex  matter.  More  detailed  investigations  are  necessary,  involving  a  number  of
departments. The Commission will inform the Honourable Member of the outcome of these investigations once
they are completed.

(98/C 354/206)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1924/98

by Alan Donnelly (PSE) to the Commission

(18 June 1998)

Subject: Health and safety laws on tourist sites

Will the Commission disclose what plans it has to draw up proposals to introduce EU-wide standards for health
and safety on tourist sites such as campsites, caravan sites and other similar tourist facilities?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission

(16 July 1998)

There exists already at Community level a number of legislative measures in the area of consumer protection,
and  in  particular  concerning  the  health  and  safety  of  consumers,  which  serve  to  protect  the  tourist.
The Commission will keep under continual review the operation of such measures.

These  measures  to  protect  consumers  are  in  addition  to  the  considerable  body  of  Community  legislation
protecting the health and safety of workers.

The Commission considers, however, that the establishment of specific standards for health and safety of the
public on tourist sites is primarily a matter for Member States, and that the tourist industry too must play its role
in  raising  the  quality  and  safety  of  tourist  sites  to  the  highest  possible  standards.  Effective  dissemination  of
information to the tourist on minimum health and safety requirements on tourist sites is an essential element in
raising standards.

In that context, the Commission will ensure that existing measures are properly implemented and will seek to
encourage  the  dissemination  of  information  and  best  practice  in  the  case  of  innovative  measures  taken  in
Member States in this area. This will be a priority issue in the case of future work programmes dealing with the
promotion of tourists(cid:146)interests.