WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3592/98 by Jan MULDER GATT quotas for poultrymeat
Date: 1998-12-03
Institutions: European Parliament, MULDER
Subjects: GATT, World Trade Organisation, export policy, export refund, poultrymeat, quantitative restriction, third country, trade volume













EUR-Lex - 91998E3592 - EN






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91998E3592

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3592/98 by Jan MULDER GATT quotas for poultrymeat  


Official Journal C 289 , 11/10/1999 P. 0067 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-3592/98by Jan Mulder (ELDR) to the Commission(3 December 1998)Subject: GATT quotas for poultrymeatWith a view to the progressive development of the branch of the poultry industry involved in the sectioning of poultry carcasses into pieces and to the consequent added value and job opportunities created, it is extremely important for a substantial proportion of the GATT quota to be set aside for the export of poultry pieces. In order to cope with this year's reduction in the overall quota, the Commission has opted for a 6 % cutback in respect of the part quota for whole birds and a 37 % cutback in respect of poultry pieces.1. Is the Commission aware of the importance of export refunds made in respect of poultry pieces, and can it endorse the view that the sectioning of poultry is a development which, given the added value created by the sector, merits support and that that support must also be reflected in the EU's export refunds policy?2. Is the Commission aware that the overwhelming majority of the Association of European Poultry Processors endorsed a breakdown of the overall quota into part quotas amounting to 287 000 tonnes for whole birds and 60 000 tonnes for poultry pieces, which would constitute a fairly equitable proportional reduction?3. Is the Commission prepared to increase the amount of poultry pieces which are eligible for export refunds when exported to third countries and deduct the same amount from the quota for whole birds?Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission(28 January 1999)The cutting up of poultry carcasses has become more and more common in line with changing consumer demand in the Community. It is more important for turkeys than for broilers.The Community export policy in the poultrymeat sector is to a large extent determined by its World trade organisation (WTO) export commitments which provide for an annual reduction by 30,000 tonnes of the export volume benefiting from refunds. In 1998/1999 only 345,400 tonnes or 30 % of poultrymeat exports may benefit.This total quantity is allotted by the Commission to different product categories in a flexible manner with indicative ceilings taking into account the state of the market and the economic importance of the products in question as laid down in Article 8 (4) of Council Regulation (EEC) 2777/75 of 29 October 1975 on the common organisation of the market in poultrymeat(1).It is for this reason that today the greater part of the 345,400 tonnes are reserved for whole broilers as entire regions in the Community depend on these exports. The annual quantitative reductions resulting from WTO export commitments cannot therefore be translated into similar reductions for all product categories. It should not be overlooked in this context that low value products which benefited from low refunds prior to 1995, but are not eligible for refunds since early 1995, are exported in increasing quantities despite not receiving any refund.(1) OJ L 282, 1.11.1975.