WRITTEN QUESTION E-1699/00 by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Rules governing fish handling.
Date: 2000-05-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Sweden, application of EU law, fish, food processing, health legislation, small business

20.2.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 53 E/177

(2001/C 53 E/230)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1698/00

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

(29 May 2000)

Subject: Number of civil service committees

In 1997, the Commission calculated that 424 civil service committees took between 4 000 and 5 000
decisions per year.

How many civil service committees does the Commission have at present and how many decisions does
the Commission estimate that they took in 1999?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(28 July 2000)

There are currently 242 committees, made up of representatives of the Member States, which assist the
Commission in exercising its executive powers.

In 1999, these committees gave more than 2 500 opinions on draft implementing measures.

(2001/C 53 E/231)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1699/00

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

(29 May 2000)

Subject: Rules governing fish handling

At the beginning of 1999, the Swedish Food Administration (SFA) announced that small fish traders had
to comply with the same stringent EU rules as the fishery industries. For small fish traders in Sk(cid:229)ne, for
example, this entailed converting their premises at the cost of several million kronor and being forced to
stop smoke-curing their own fish. One of the EU rules on fish handling is that no area in which a person
fillets fish may be entered by any other person. Neither may fish at any stage of preparation other than
fillet be taken through that area. The SFA first thought that smaller operations would not be affected but,
in 1999, concluded that the strict rules apply across the board.

Does the Commission share the view that small fish traders must comply with the same rules as the fishery
industries in regard to the gutting, drying and smoking of fish?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(17 July 2000)

The rules for the hygienic handling of fish and fishery products are contained in Council Directive 91/493/
EEC of 22 July 1991 laying down the health conditions for the production and the placing on the market
of fishery products (1), as amended by Directive 95/71/EC (2). Certain of the requirements laid down in the
Swedish legislation to which the Honourable Member refers, and in particular the rule that (cid:145)no area in
which a person fillets fish may be entered by another person(cid:146), seem to be more detailed than those
contained in Directive 91/493/EEC. Differences between Community rules and national
law could be
explained by changes that have occurred during the process of implementation of Community directives
into national law.

C 53 E/178

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.2.2001

The Commission is currently reviewing and consolidating all hygiene rules that are at present available in
Community legislation. The need to provide for flexibility in particular for small businesses is being
considered and any proposals will be submitted to the Parliament and the Council as soon as possible.

(1) OJ L 268, 24.9.1991.
(2) OJ L 332, 30.12.1995.

(2001/C 53 E/232)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1704/00

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

(29 May 2000)

Subject: Ban on the docking of dogs(cid:146) tails

Is the Swedish ban on the docking of dogs(cid:146) tails consistent with the EU(cid:146)s internal market, given that there
is no such ban throughout the EU?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(14 July 2000)

The Commission understands that the Swedish prohibition on the docking of dogs(cid:146) tails is imposed for
animal welfare reasons.

In the absence of Community legislation on this aspect of animal welfare Member States may in principle
maintain their national rules subject to the respect of the general rules of the EC Treaty.

The Commission is currently not aware of any internal market problems resulting from the Swedish
prohibition.

(2001/C 53 E/233)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1722/00

by Piia-Noora Kauppi (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Measures to guarantee the safety of road tunnels

(20 May 2000)

European road users(cid:146) organisations have commissioned a study designed to establish, by means of spot
checks, safety levels in 25 road tunnels in eight European countries. The study focused on those tunnels
most used by tourists.

The study laid down ten different criteria which were used to assess the degree of safety of the tunnels. The
most important were fire safety, the width of the lanes, the availability of sufficient space to enable
ambulances and fire engines to reach the scene of accidents, the presence of video surveillance equipment
in the tunnels and the degree to which the ventilation of the tunnels is geared to the possibility of
accidents.

In addition, tests were carried out to determine how quickly the fire, ambulance and other emergency
services can reach the scene of accidents. Along with ease of access for emergency service vehicles, the
study examined whether emergency service personnel are trained to deal with accidents in tunnels. In the
case of some tunnels, the operators seemed entirely indifferent to the issue of safety or had given little
proper thought to it, owing to a lack of practical knowledge.

The study revealed that a number of tunnels appear to be very dangerous and offer an inadequate level of
safety.

The Commission has also received the study in question, prompting the following question: What
measures is it taking in order to ensure that road tunnels in Europe are safe?