WRITTEN QUESTION E-2503/99 by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Minimum standards for the protection of laying hens.
Date: 1999-12-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Central and Eastern European countries, Community acquis, EU aid, European standard, animal welfare, laying poultry, protection of animals, regulation (EU), terms for aid

C 330 E/14

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.11.2000

Community initiative Interreg III foresees amongst the eligible measures actions of cooperation in the field
of sustainable water management (floods, droughts) within a spatial planning context.

(1) OJ C 108, 7.4.1998.
(2) Common Position adopted by Council on 22.10.1999, not yet published in the Official Journal.
(3) OJ C 150, 28.5.1999.

(2000/C 330 E/013)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2503/99

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 December 1999)

Subject: Minimum standards for the protection of laying hens

Having regard to Council Directive 1999/74/EC (1) of 19 July 1999 laying down minimum standards for
the protection of laying hens and to Chapter II of this directive which specifies that the Member States
must ensure that, from 1 January 2003, all cage systems referred to in that chapter comply with the
minimum standards that are laid down, that rearing in the cages referred to in that chapter is prohibited
with effect from 1 January 2012 and that, with effect from 1 January 2003, no cages such as referred to in
that chapter may be built or brought into service for the first time;

having regard also to the possibility of the Union partly financing chicken farms in the applicant countries
with a view to accession;

will the Commission state whether:

(cid:129) the above provisions and their strict observance are taken into account in connection with such part-

financing?

(cid:129) it plans to establish in the near future a supervisory body with specific responsibility for overseeing

and monitoring the above provisions?

(1) OJ L 203, 3.8.1999, p. 53.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(14 February 2000)

Council Regulation (EC) No 1268/1999 of 21 June 1999 provides for Community support for pre-
accession measures for agriculture and rural development in the applicant countries of central and eastern
Europe in the pre-accession period (1). The objectives of the support are to contribute to the implementa-
tion of the acquis communautaire concerning the common agricultural policy and related policies and to
solve priority and specific problems for the sustainable adaptation of the agricultural sector and rural areas
in the applicant countries. Article 2 of the above Regulation provides for investment in agricultural
holdings and it is expected that most applicant countries will propose such measures in their plans.
According to Article 4 (3) of the same Regulation the applicant countries shall ensure, amongst others,
that priority is given to measures improving quality and health standards in compliance with the
provisions on the protection of the environment.

Commission Regulation (EC) No 2759/1999 of 22 December 1999 laying down rules for the application
of Council Regulation (EC) No 1268/1999 on Community support
for pre-accession measures for
agriculture and rural development in the applicant countries of central and eastern Europe in the pre-
accession period (2), states that investment support shall be granted to agricultural holdings which comply
with the national minimum standards regarding environment, hygiene and animal welfare at the time
when the decision to grant support is taken. In the same article it is also stated that where acquis-related
minimum standards regarding the environment, hygiene and animal welfare have been newly introduced at
the time the application is received, the decision to grant support will be conditional on the holding
meeting these new standards by the end of the realisation of the investment. However, the new investment
itself must comply with Community standards, whether or not the holding as a whole complies with these
standards.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 330 E/15

including the fulfilment of the above
In order to monitor and evaluate the application of the plans,
provisions, a monitoring committee will be established for each applicant country and rules and
procedures for reports are established in the plans.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.
(2) OJ L 331, 23.12.1999.

(2000/C 330 E/014)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2504/99

by Astrid Thors (ELDR) to the Commission

(22 December 1999)

Subject: New toxic substances harmful to the environment discovered in food

According to an article in the Swedish newspaper (cid:145)Dagens Nyheter(cid:146) of 11 October 1999, Swedish scientists
have found a new substance that is harmful to the environment and causes cancer. Brominated flame
retardants (TeBDE) from discarded electrical domestic appliances are now found in high concentrations in
herring and Baltic herring. The concentrations are still low in meat, butter and cheese, but the discovery is
alarming for two reasons; firstly the concentrations will increase as fast as PCBs, and secondly, the toxins
to the
from the flame retardants must be added together with other substances that are harmful
environment, such as PCBs, so that the total health risk can be estimated.

Is the Commission aware of this new discovery, and does it intend to take any action regarding the matter?

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(25 February 2000)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the answers to written questions E-3004/98 by
Mr Eisma (1), P-1976/99 by Mrs Sch(cid:246)rling (2) and to the oral question H-776/99 by Mrs Sch(cid:246)rling during
question time at Parliament(cid:146)s December 1999 part-session (3).

Furthermore, following the submission of a memorandum from Denmark and Sweden, a discussion took
place at the Environment Council on 13 December 1999 about the need for urgent Community measures
in respect of brominated flame retardants.

In this context the Commission recalled that comprehensive risk assessments on three brominated flame
retardants, undertaken in accordance with Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 on the evaluation and
control of the risks of existing substances (4), are currently underway. When the risk assessment reports are
finalised they will be presented for independent peer-review to the scientific committee for toxicity,
ecotoxicity and the environment.

The member of the Commission responsible for the Environment wrote on 15 December 1999 to the
ministers of the Member States responsible to urge completion of the risk assessments as soon as possible.

Once the reports have been finalised, the Commission will publish the results in the Official journal and
propose further risk reduction measures, if necessary.

Given that increased concentrations of five polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) congeners have been
found in the blood of workers at recycling plants and that future Community legislation on waste electrical
and electronic equipment (WEEE) will increase significantly the recycling of PBDE containing plastics, the
substitution of these brominated flame retardants in the production of new electrical and electronic
equipment is currently discussed within the Commission.

(1) OJ C 142, 21.5.1999.
(2) OJ C 203 E, 18.7.2000, p. 101.
(3) Debates of the European Parliament (December 1999).
(4) OJ L 84, 5.4.1993.