WRITTEN QUESTION E-1687/00 by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. EU standards versus local food production.
Date: 2000-05-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: South Sweden, egg, intra-EU trade, marketing standard

20.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 89 E/73

(2001/C 89 E/073)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1687/00

by Jonas Sj(cid:246)stedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(29 May 2000)

Subject: EU standards versus local food production

In the spring of 1998, an ICA retailer in Tors(cid:229)s, southern Sweden, sold eggs which he bought from a local
the EU introduced standards for trade in eggs which were
farmer. On 1 January 1998, however,
interpreted to mean that eggs which local producers were unable to candle and pack themselves must be
transported to an approved egg-packing plant. This meant that the ICA retailer in Tors(cid:229)s could no longer
sell eggs from local farmers. Instead, the eggs had first to be transported 250 km to the egg-packing plant
at H(cid:228)ssleholm and then be transported back packed. The effect of this is to curb the development of local
production. What are the Commission(cid:146)s views on this situation? Must eggs sold in shops have been
candled and packed by an authorised egg-packing plant?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(20 July 2000)

Council Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90 of 26 June 1990, on certain marketing standards for eggs (1) is
applicable in Sweden since 1 January 1998. It provides that eggs shall not be marketed by way of business
or trade unless they satisfy the provisions of that regulation stipulating that: eggs shall be graded by
quality, and grade A eggs also by weight; only packing centres may grade eggs, producers may not deliver
eggs to anyone but collectors, packing centres, certain wholesale markets and industry.

The Commission therefore confirms that, in order to ensure quality eggs for consumers, eggs cannot be
sold directly from farmers to retail trade without being candled and graded in a packing centre. Regarding
the case in Southern Sweden referred to by the Honourable Member, about 20 packing centres are situated
within a radius of 150 kilometres around Tors(cid:229)s according to the Swedish board of Agriculture, partly
much closer. Furthermore, producers may be approved as packing centres if their premises and technical
equipment for candling and grading of eggs comply with the conditions laid down in the common egg
marketing standards.

(1) OJ L 173, 6.7.1990.

(2001/C 89 E/074)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1700/00

by Jonas Sj(cid:246)stedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: National taxes and levies on imported cars

(29 May 2000)

Can the Swedish Government impose an equally high sales tax on an imported used car as on a new
Swedish car? The same question applies to the imposition of environmental and scrapping levies. Can the
Swedish Government impose an equally high levy on an imported car as on a new Swedish car?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(18 July 2000)

The Court of Justice has ruled that if a Member State charges tax on vehicles from other Member States
based on a value generally higher than their real value, while similar domestic vehicles are taxed on their