WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3881/98 by Livio FILIPPI Protection of Parma ham
Date: 1998-12-11
Institutions: European Parliament, FILIPPI
Subjects: Emilia-Romagna, United Kingdom, competitiveness, designation of origin, location of production, meat product, pigmeat, preparation for market, product designation, product quality

C 289/102

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.10.1999

(1999/C 289/134)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3881/98

by Livio Filippi (PPE) to the Commission

(11 December 1998)

Subject: Protection of Parma ham

Has the Commission studied the terms of the judgment by the Court of Appeal in London, which dismissed as
unfounded the action brought by the Parma ham association, challenging the sale under the ‘Parma’ label of
ham which had been sliced and packed outside the area of production?

At a time when the European institutions are increasingly emphasising the need to exploit quality as a factor
that will enhance the competitiveness of European agri-foodstuffs, what action will the Commission be taking
to help find a solution to the dispute between the Parma ham association and the British authorities with a
view to protecting the quality and name of Parma ham?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(12 January 1999)

The Commission knows about the judgment referred to by the Honourable Member in the case ‘Consorzio del
prosciutto di Parma v. ASDA Food Store Ltd and Hygrade Foods Ltd’ and has studied it in detail.

The issue is about whether slicing the ‘prosciutto di Parma’ protected designation of origin (PDO) is permitted
outside the area of production and without the supervision of the ‘consorzio’. Slicing is an operation which
appears not to be in conformity with what is specified, under certain conditions, in the product specification
with regard to registered designation at Community level.

The Commission is prepared to express its views on the judgment referred to by the Honourable Member if a
question for a preliminary ruling is referred to the Court of Justice as part of the means of redress available
under national law in the United Kingdom.

(1999/C 289/135)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3884/98

by Michl Ebner (PPE) to the Commission

(4 January 1999)

Subject: European Civilian Service

Most Member States of the Union acknowledge civilian service, but some, like Greece, do not. Accordingly, in
the latter instance, people who refuse to undertake military service on religious or conscientious grounds are
persecuted by national authorities.

On 22 September 1995, the European Parliament adopted a resolution (B4-1127/95) (1) on the establishment
of a European Civilian Service in which it called on the Commission to submit a proposal for the establishment
of a European Civilian Service.

The Commission:

> does it intend, as part of the process for the harmonisation of the legal system in the European Union, to

put in hand an approximation of the relevant laws of the various Member States, and

> does it intend, in connection with the mobility of the inhabitants of the European Union, to devise a
system which would permit the establishment of a genuine European Civilian Service or enable
individuals to serve in a Civilian Service in a Member State of the Union other their own?

(1) OJ C 269, 16.10.1995, p. 232.