WRITTEN QUESTION E-2026/99 by Caroline Jackson (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Organophosphate sheep dips.
Date: 1999-11-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: agronomic research, dangerous substance, health control, health risk, occupational health, research programme, sheep, veterinary medicinal product

20.6.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 170 E/139

Please may I have a complete list of those powers which the European Union or any of its predecessor
bodies have ever specified shall remain with the nation-states and shall not be transferred at any time to
the European Union.

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(26 November 1999)

The only powers the Community has are those conferred on it by the Member States in the Treaties.

(2000/C 170 E/167)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2024/99

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(3 November 1999)

Subject: Small farmers and preservation of the countryside

Does the Commission recognise the role of small farmers in helping to preserve the countryside as a
resource both for the local community and for tourism?

Does the Commission not feel that the rural environment protection scheme and other rural development
schemes should be widened and enlarged to ensure that adequate financial recognition is given to small
farmers for this role?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(24 November 1999)

The Commission recognises the important role of small farmers in the management of the countryside, in
the conservation of bio-diversity and the protection of the environment.

Council Regulation (EC) 1259/1999 of 17 May 1999, establishing common rules for direct support
schemes under the common agricultural policy (1), allows the Member States to modulate the direct
payments granted to farmers according to certain objective criteria. The Member States can use money
made available from reduced payments for certain additional measures in the framework of rural
development support provided under Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/ of 17 May 1999 on support for
rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and amending
and repealing certain Regulations (2). This Regulation presents an integrated approach to rural develop-
ment, where the recognition of the multi-functional role of agriculture, and implicitly of small farmers, is a
key element. It provides a series of measures which may be adopted by Member States according to their
specific needs. Since Member States may lay down further or more restrictive conditions for granting
Community support for rural development, some of these measures can be used specifically to support
small farmers. Agri-tourism is one of the possible actions that can be adopted by Member States in their
rural development programmes to promote rural restructuring and diversify the economy.

(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.
(2) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.

(2000/C 170 E/168)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2026/99

by Caroline Jackson (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 November 1999)

Subject: Organophosphate sheep dips

Can the Commission say whether the EU is helping finance any research projects into the effects on
human health of the handling of organophosphate sheep dips, and whether it has any plans either to ban
such dips, or to reinforce the safety measures that must be employed when they are being used?

C 170 E/140

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.6.2000

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(20 December 1999)

The Commission can confirm that the Community is not directly funding any research projects into the
In addition, there are no
effects on human health of the handling of organophosphate sheep dips.
Community plans to ban such dips or to lay down safety measures that must be employed in addition to
those already provided by the manufacturers and by individual Member State national legislation.

There is no current project in agriculture research within the agro-industrial research (AIR) and fisheries,
agriculture and agro-industrial research (FAIR) programmes on this matter.

However, a research proposal on this theme could be submitted to key action 5 of the specific programme
(cid:145)Quality of life and management of living resources(cid:146) of the 5th framework programme for research and
technological development (RTD). One of the priorities of the above key action is (cid:145)Health and welfare of
animals used in farm livestock production(cid:146). Research activities on improved methods for evaluating the
impact of veterinary products on public and animal health could be addressed to this key action.

(2000/C 170 E/169)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2029/99

by BØatrice Patrie (PSE) to the Commission

(3 November 1999)

Subject: Community subsidies for school milk

The press and various associations are currently drawing attention to the present and planned further
reductions in Community subsidies for school milk following a decision by the Commission.

Child nutrition experts and specialists argue that milk is essential for children(cid:146)s growth and that school
milk schemes make it possible to reach sections of the population which, even today, do not have a
sufficiently rich or balanced diet.

The Commission(cid:146)s plans, which are worrying both from a farming point of view and with regard to public
health, raise a number of questions:

1. The Agriculture Council of 14 and 15 June 1999 took the view that the consumption of milk should
be encouraged because of its high nutritional value, particularly for children and young people.

Why, then, has the Commission gone against the general opinion of the Member States and taken a
decision that could jeopardise school milk schemes?

2.

3.

Just as the Treaty of Amsterdam has elevated public health policy to the rank of a horizontal
Community policy, how can the Commission, in the name of narrow budgetary considerations, risk
endangering the health of European children who benefit from the nourishment that school milk
provides?

From a financial perspective, how can the consumption of milk be encouraged in a cost-effective way,
taking account of the overall availability of budgetary resources? Could the subsidies concerned
conceivably be transferred from the CAP budget to the health budget so that school milk schemes
may continue with due regard for the budgetary constraints?

(2000/C 170 E/170)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2054/99

by GØrard Caudron (PSE) to the Commission

(3 November 1999)

Subject: Abolition of European aid payments for the distribution of milk in schools

Reports are widespread of the Commission decision reducing, then abolishing, Community subsidies for
the distribution of milk in schools.