WRITTEN QUESTION E-0893/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Assessment of the dioxin crisis in Belgium.
Date: 2000-03-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Belgium, animal nutrition, animal product, food additive, food inspection, food safety, foodstuffs legislation, toxic substance

13.3.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/7

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-0886/00,
E-0888/00, E-0890/00, E-0892/00 and E-0894/00

(29 September 2000)

Although the report to which the Honourable Member refers is not addressed to and has not been
examined by the Council,
it is nevertheless possible to comment in a general way on some of the
observations which have been selected by the Honourable Member.

The number of problems, including the dioxin crisis in Belgium, that have arisen in various phases of the
foodchain during recent years clearly indicate that the food safety legislation of the EC needs to be
reviewed and strengthened in order to restore consumer confidence not only in the safety of food but also
in authorities that are responsible for food safety.

The White Paper on Food Safety presented by the Commission in January outlines and offers a number of
measures aimed at avoiding the abovementioned crises in the future. In the Annex to the White Paper an
action plan of 84 concrete measures (most of them legislative proposals) is presented. These measures aim
at improving and strengthening the regulatory framework in the whole foodchain.

At present, the Council is preparing its reaction to the White Paper and looks forward to working with the
European Parliament on the specific proposals from the Commission, in order to adopt a comprehensive
and coherent legislative framework which will achieve the agreed objectives.

The issues related to food safety that have been specifically mentioned in the questions, namely the
regulatory framework for the composition of feedingstuffs and of contaminants, rules on compulsory
notification of the European Union authorities in the event of contamination of feedingstuffs and the use
of offal, will all be examined in the context of the Commission(cid:146)s legislative proposals.

The possible introduction of a positive list of ingredients allowed for use in feedingstuffs needs to be
considered, with a view in particular to better consumer protection. The materials which may or may not
be used in animal feed production, including animal by-products, need to be clearly defined. The benefits
and feasibility of a positive list of feed materials in the medium term will be examined. In the short term, it
is necessary to rely on the current negative list which the Commission proposes to extend.

As regards the issue of sludge in feedingstuffs, Commissioner Byrne has informed the Agriculture Council
of problems which arose with the interpretation of the different language versions of Commission Decision
518/91 which aims to prohibit the use of sludge in feedingstuffs. The Council has noted the steps taken by
the Commission to clarify the situation and confirm the prohibition.

(2001/C 81 E/010)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0893/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(22 March 2000)

Subject: Assessment of the dioxin crisis in Belgium

The dioxin crisis in Belgium once again demonstrated how vulnerable the food chain, and checks on it,
are. An assessment such as that made by the Dioxin Committee of the Chamber of Representatives can
help to eliminate problems. Both the European Union and the fifteen Member States have an important
role to play in this

The Members of Parliament observe that (cid:145)the European directive on undesirable substances in feedingstuffs
does not mention PCBs and dioxins(cid:146). They consider that a positive list of permitted raw materials for
feedingstuffs, such as used to exist prior to Directive 96/25/EC (1) of 29 April 1996, ought to be
reintroduced.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.3.2001

1. Will the Commission amend the European directive with reference to undesirable substances in
feedingstuffs by adding PCBs and dioxins to the list of undesirable substances?

(a)

(b)

If so, within what time limit will the Commission submit the proposal for this amendment to the
European Parliament?

If not, why does the Commission not consider it necessary to add PCBs and dioxins to the Directive
on undesirable substances, bearing in mind its position during the dioxin crisis in Belgium?

Should a positive list of raw materials permitted in feedingstuffs, such as existed prior to Directive

2.
96/25/EC of 29 April 1996, be reintroduced, as the Dioxin Committee says?

(a)

If not, why will the Commission not introduce a positive list, despite the lessons which have been
learned from the dioxin crisis in Belgium?

(b)

If so, how soon will the positive list be drawn up?

(1) OJ L 125, 23.5.1996, p. 35.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(4 May 2000)

Council Directive 1999/29/EC of 22 April 1999 on the undesirable substances and products in
1.
animal nutrition (1)
lays down maximum levels for undesirable substances and products in animal
nutrition. With regard to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxins, a maximum limit for dioxins in
citrus pulp has been established following the finding of high levels of dioxins in citrus pulp pellets
originating from Brazil. After the finding of high level of dioxin in kaolinitic clay used as additive in
feedingstuffs, a maximum limit of dioxins for kaolinitic clay has also been established by Commission
Regulation (EC) No 2439/1999 of 17 November 1999 on the conditions for the authorisation of additives
belonging to the group (cid:145)binders, anti-caking agents and coagulants(cid:146) in feedingstuffs (2).

As the consequence of the Belgian dioxin crisis, the establishment of maximum limits for dioxins and PCBs
for other feed materials and feedingstuffs will be considered on the basis of a scientific risk assessment. The
scientific committee for animal nutrition has been requested to evaluate the contribution of feedingstuffs
contaminated with dioxins, PCBs and dioxin-like PCBs to the contamination of food of animal origin.

This evaluation involves the identification of feed materials, which could be considered as sources of
contamination by dioxins, PCBs and dioxin-like PCBs of animal
including fish feed.
The scientific committee for animal nutrition would also assess the contribution of the different identified
feed materials as sources of contamination of food of animal origin. It should take into account both the
dietary variations in relation to animal categories, including fish, and the carry-over rate of dioxins and
PCBs in the different animal products of animal origin.

feedingstuffs,

As indicated in the white paper for food safety (3) under action 21 of the action plan on food safety, the
Commission intends to adopt the measures by December 2000. In accordance with Article 7 § 3 of
Council decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of
implementing powers conferred on the Commission (4), the Parliament shall be informed by the Com-
mission of draft measures submitted to the standing committee for feedingstuffs.

The Commission would point out that although such positive list existed previously in some Member

2.
States including Belgium, such a positive list of feed materials has never existed at Community level.

As mentioned in the white paper on food safety, the Commission acknowledges the need to define clearly
the materials, which may or may not be used in animal feed production, including animal by-products.
A positive list of feed materials would give the clearest response but this task is complex and time-
consuming. However, the Commission is committed to working towards a positive list over the medium
term. In the short term, the current negative list needs to be rapidly expanded.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/9

As indicated in the white paper for food safety under action 22 of the action plan on food safety,
a proposal for amending Council Directive 96/25/EEC on the circulation of feed materials (5) could be
adopted by the Commission for submission to the Council and Parliament by December 2002, following
reflection to decide whether an exclusive positive list of authorised feed materials should be established.
Furthermore, as indicated under action 30 of that action plan, a proposal for a regulation of the Parliament
and of the Council establishing new rules for the disposal and the processing of animal waste and animal
by-products is in preparation. This proposal will lay down a positive list of animal by-products, which may
be used for the preparation of feed materials of animal origin. Its submission to the Council and to the
Parliament is scheduled for June 2000.

(1) OJ L 115, 4.5.1999.
(2) OJ L 297, 18.11.1999.
(3) COM(1999) 719 final.
(4) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999.
(5) OJ C 261, 19.8.1998.

(2001/C 81 E/011)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0933/00

by Helmuth Markov (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(29 March 2000)

Subject: Commission investigations against the German Land of Thuringia

1. What investigation procedures in connection with subsidies under EU programmes and directives
have been or are being carried out by the Commission against the Land of Thuringia, and when did these
begin?

2. What has been the outcome of the investigations under competition law which have already been
completed? What is the financial scope of the procedures under investigation, and into what particular
areas can they be broken down?

3.
Has the Land government been involved in the investigation process or informed about the outcome,
and have any specific demands for changes on specific matters been made? If so, when, and on what
matters?

4. What are the possible consequences for the Land of Thuringia, and what is the Commission(cid:146)s
assessment of these?

5. Which investigation procedures have not yet been completed, when is this likely to happen and to
what matters do they relate?

Is there a need to alter the customary procedures for the implementation of EU programmes and

6.
directives in Thuringia; if so, which, and in which areas?

Supplementary answer
given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(7 September 2000)

1.
The operational programmes under the Structural Funds have been in place in the Land of Thuringia
since 29 March 1991. These programmes are examined on the basis of the regulations governing the
implementation of the Structural Funds, particularly those provisions on evaluation. This is an ongoing
process which covers the entire financial package involved.

As one of its activities implementing the European Social Fund the Commission carried out monitoring
visits to Germany (as to the other Member States), including a visit to Thuringia. Following one of these
monitoring visits the German authorities agreed,
in 1999, to waive their entitlement to non-eligible
expenditure under an ESF programme managed by Thuringia(cid:146)s Ministry of Culture. This non-eligible
expenditure totalled some € 5,7 million.