WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3129/98 by Brigitte LANGENHAGEN to the Commission. Distortions of competition in relation to the purchase of horsemeat
Date: 1998-10-16
Institutions: European Parliament, LANGENHAGEN
Subjects: EU Member State, EU aid, Germany, agricultural product, agro-industry, aid system, horsemeat, purchase price, restriction on competition

C 297/50

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

15.10.1999

(1999/C 297/065)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3129/98

by Brigitte Langenhagen (PPE) to the Commission

(16 October 1998)

Subject: Distortions of competition in relation to the purchase of horsemeat

In northern Germany there are, apparently, substantial differences in the price structure applied to the
purchase of horsemeat by German purchasers on the one hand and French, Belgian and Italian purchasers on
the other.

Can the Commission confirm the existence of these distortions of competition between Member States in
relation to the purchase of horsemeat? Does this situation arise as a result of EU subsidies?

Are such distortions of competition in line with the CAP?

Are national subsidies permissible in this area?

What possible means exist of restricting the transport of live animals to a minimum, in line with EU policy?

Would a young businessman investing in slaughtering, butchering and processing activities be regarded as
eligible to receive EU assistance?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(23 November 1998)

Horsemeat for human consumption is not covered by a common organisation of the market at Community
level. By virtue of Council Regulation 26, of 4 April 1962 (1), only the provisions of Article 93(1) of the EC
Treaty and of the first sentence of Article 93(3) are applicable to state aids granted for the production and
marketing of agricultural products falling within the scope of Annex II of the Treaty which are not covered by
a common organisation of the market. This means that although Member States are required to notify draft aid
measures to the Commission, the powers of the Commission are limited to formulating observations on the
aid measures concerned. The Commission does not have the power to launch a formal investigation into the
aid measures concerned in accordance with Article 93(2), nor can it adopt a decision finding the aids to be
incompatible with the common market because they give rise to distortions of competition.

There is no Community welfare legislation requiring the reduction to a minimum of the transport of live
animals. The Community legislation on the protection of animals during transport only states under which
conditions animals may be transported.

These conditions might however result in practice in a reduction of the number of animals that are transported
over distances of more than eight hours within the Community.

Council Regulation (EC) 951/97 of 20 May 1997, on improving the processing and marketing conditions for
agricultural products (2) provides Community assistance to those carrying out investments relating to the
processing and marketing of agricultural products. The investments must comply with the objectives set out in
the regulation and shall, in principle, concern the products listed in Annex II to the EC Treaty. Furthermore,
they must guarantee the producers of the basic products an adequate and lasting share in the resulting
economic benefits. As horses and horse meat are included in this Annex, the slaughter, cutting and processing
of horses and horse meat is eligible for support under this scheme. The measure is implemented via
programmes submitted by Member States and approved by the Commission at the beginning of the
programming period 1994-1999. The execution of the programmes and in particular the selection of
investments is the responsibility of Member States.

(1) OJ 30, 20.4.1962.
(2) OJ L 142, 2.6.1997.