WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3906/98 by Miguel ARIAS CAÑETE Lack of provision for bank statements in relation to the sale of olive residue
Date: 1999-01-04
Institutions: ARIAS CANETE, European Parliament
Subjects: accounting, aid system, common organisation of markets, crop yield, fats, olive oil, olive-growing, payment, product quality, production aid

6.11.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 320/87

Maintaining a 0,70 coefficient either suggests that the oil content of olives is 30 %, or creates a situation where
it will be possible to justify a greater quantity of olives entering the mill than the actual quantity. Might that be
the aim?

(1999/C 320/117)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3906/98

by Miguel Arias Cañete (PPE) to the Commission

(4 January 1999)

Subject: Lack of provision for bank statements in relation to the sale of olive residue

In the new two-stage extraction process the olives are pressed so thoroughly that the residue is becoming
worthless.

The rules in force do not contain any provisions in this regard, and do not even make provision for the
presentation of bank statements in the event of sales of residue (whereas they do provide for the presentation
of bank statements in relation to payments for the oil).

Will the Commission act to close this loophole?

(1999/C 320/118)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3907/98

by Miguel Arias Cañete (PPE) to the Commission

(4 January 1999)

Subject: Stock records at olive mills

Article 9(1)(d) of the new Regulation on the application of production aid for olive oil stipulates that the
quantities of oil purchased must be included in the stock records kept by olive mills for checking purposes, so
as to prevent the declaration of higher production than the amount actually produced; nevertheless, no
provision is made for the possible purchase of olive residue.

Given that all production of olive oil involves the corresponding production of residue and there is no ban on
such purchases, should possible purchases of olive residue by mills be subject to the same checks on stocks and
quantities entering the mill?

(1999/C 320/119)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3908/98

by Miguel Arias Cañete (PPE) to the Commission

(4 January 1999)

Subject: Flat-rate payments for the production of olive-residue oil

Under the current rules, flat-rate payments continue to apply only to the production of olive-residue oil. For
every 100 kg of olive oil produced, aid is granted for 108 kg (8 % corresponding to olive-residue oil), whether
or not olive-residue oil is actually produced, which is not subject to any checks.

Basing payments on the actual production of olive-residue oil would improve and facilitate checks without
placing an additional burden on the budget, given that the production of olive-residue oil is included in the
MGQ, the amount of aid granted is the same for each kind of oil and in both cases production aid is paid to the
olive-grower.

This would also bring the system into line with the actual situation, since under the flat-rate system aid is paid
out for olive-residue oil which is not in fact produced, and it would at the same time help to improve the
quality of virgin olive oil, since maximum extraction means increased production and poorer quality. Linking
payments to actual production and granting the same aid for the actual production of both types of oil would