WRITTEN QUESTION E-0886/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council. Assessment of the dioxin crisis in Belgium.
Date: 2000-03-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Belgium, animal feedingstuffs, animal product, food inspection, food safety, foodstuffs legislation, toxic substance

13.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/5

(2001/C 81 E/005)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0886/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(23 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 14-page final conclusion of the Dioxin Committee contains a number of references to the conduct of
(cid:145)As regards the composition of
the European Union during the dioxin crisis in the Belgian Federation:
feedingstuffs and of contaminants, the European Union does not have a sufficiently effective regulatory
framework. The rules on compulsory notification of the EU authorities are inadequate. The EU added to
the chaos which marked the development of the crisis.(cid:146)

Does the Council accept that (cid:145)as regards the composition of feedingstuffs and of contaminants, the
European Union does not have a sufficiently effective regulatory framework(cid:146), as claimed in the report of
the Dioxin Committee?

If not, what arguments are there to show that, contrary to the statement by the Dioxin Committee, the
EU(cid:146)s regulatory framework for the composition of feedingstuffs and contaminants is effective?

(2001/C 81 E/006)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0888/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(23 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.

In the nine pages concerning the shortcomings, the most striking sentence is this:
notification system for Member States of
feedingstuffs is not clear(cid:146).

(cid:145)the compulsory
the European Union in the event of contamination of

Does the Council agree with the Dioxin Committee that the rules on compulsory notification of the EU
authorities are inadequate?

If not, what arguments are there to suggest that, contrary to the statement by the Dioxin Committee, the
rules on compulsory notification are adequate?

(2001/C 81 E/007)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0890/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(23 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.