WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3516/98 by Amedeo AMADEO Health problems affecting trade in bovine animals and swine
Date: 1998-11-25
Institutions: AMADEO, European Parliament
Subjects: agricultural trade, cattle, database, fresh meat, health control, intra-EU trade, labelling, live animal, meat product, swine

C 289/54

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.10.1999

(1999/C 289/071)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3510/98

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(25 November 1998)

Subject: Food, veterinary and plant health control and inspection

With reference to the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council and the
Economic and Social Committee on food, veterinary and plant health control and inspection (COM(98) 32
final) and to the negotiations within the WTO with a view to maintaining equilibrium in international free
trade, taking into account inter alia health and safety aspects, can the Commission endeavour as actively as
possible to support the European Union’s control policy and to gain acceptance of it by the international
community so that the problems caused by the liberalisation of trade in the food, veterinary and plant health
sector can be dealt with?

Answer given by Ms Bonino on behalf of the Commission

(22 December 1998)

The Commission can assure the Honourable Member that it is making every effort to maintain the
Community’s control policy in the food, veterinary and plant health sector, in particular by stepping up
the inspections and checks carried out by the Food and Veterinary Office in third countries and in the Member
States. It is also endeavouring to get this control policy accepted in all the international bodies concerned.
Thus, as spokesman for the Community on the World Trade Organisation’s sanitary and phytosanitary
committee,
the Commission is presenting, explaining and defending the Community’s sanitary and
phytosanitary policy, with a view to maintaining a high level of protection while minimising any restrictive
effects on international trade.

(1999/C 289/072)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3516/98

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(25 November 1998)

Subject: Health problems affecting trade in bovine animals and swine

I refer to 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 (COM(98) 0081 final 8
98/0052 COD) (1). Whilst supporting the Commission’s proposal to introduce a computerised system, I would
point out that the database is not yet operative.

There is no doubt that this will not help to restore consumer credibility and confidence.

Can the Commission therefore submit a report on the progress made in the implementation of that system
throughout the Community?

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

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(28 January 1999)

Article 5 of Council Regulation (EC) 820/97 of 21 April 1997 establishing a system for the identification and
registration of bovine animals and regarding the labelling of beef and beef products (1) states that
‘computerised databases shall become fully operational no later than 31 December 1999, after which they
shall store all data required pursuant... to Directive 64/432/EEC’. Member States are at present providing
themselves with the means of meeting this obligation and the situation therefore varies widely. Given the