WRITTEN QUESTION P-1906/00 by Albert Maat (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Advertising campaign for British pigmeat in the United Kingdom.
Date: 2000-06-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: United Kingdom, animal welfare, comparative advertising, intensive livestock farming, pigmeat, restriction on competition, single market

13.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/107

2. On 29 May 2000 the Council agreed to the request of the United Kingdom to take part in some of
the provisions of the Schengen acquis. The relevant Council Decision is published in the Official
Journal L 131 of 1 June 2000, page 43 (1).

(1) OJ L 131, 1.6.2000, p. 43.

(2001/C 81 E/129)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1906/00

by Albert Maat (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(6 June 2000)

Subject: Advertising campaign for British pigmeat in the United Kingdom

There is an advertising campaign for British pigmeat
in the United Kingdom worth € 7,4 million
(£ 4,6 million) financed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Meat and Livestock
Commission. There are posters in the regional and national press referring to different standards of animal
welfare in other Member States of the EU. The campaign of 11 May is to do with the restricted space
which sows allegedly have and the 30 May campaign refers to the cannibalism that allegedly occurs as a
result of feeding bone meal. The campaign puts other Member States (indirectly) in a bad light.

The main purpose of the campaign is to encourage the sale of British pigmeat, which will have an adverse
effect on exports of pigmeat (cid:129) principally from Denmark and the Netherlands (cid:129) to the United Kingdom.
The campaign has been launched in the light of the crisis in the British pigmeat sector which is the result
not only of differences in welfare requirements in the Union but also of the exchange rate of the pound.

Is the Commission aware of the British advertising campaign for pigmeat? What is its attitude towards this
campaign?

Does the Commission agree that the campaign (cid:129) and the resultant distortion of competition (cid:129) are a
contravention of the European internal market? If not, why not?

Does the Commission agree that a level playing field needs to be created within the internal market, with
uniform standards for animal welfare, so that the pig sector can operate under the same conditions
throughout Europe? If not, why not? If so, what action is the Commission considering taking?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(29 June 2000)

the promotion campaign to which the Honourable Member refers.
The Commission is aware of
The Commission has started an inquiry with the authorities in the United Kingdom to investigate the
matter. Without prejudice to the outcome of
the Commission emphasises the
importance of proper observance of the state aid rules in the field of promotion and advertising of
agricultural products as they are outlined in the framework for national aid for advertising of agricultural
products and certain products not listed in Annex II (now Annex I) to the EC Treaty, excluding fishery
products (1) and the Commission communication concerning state involvement in the promotion of
agricultural and fisheries products (2).

these investigations,

The minimum requirements for the protection of pigs kept in intensive conditions are provided by Council
Directive 91/630/EEC of 19 November 1991 (3). Article 6 provides for appropriate proposals to improve
the welfare conditions of farmed pigs on the basis of a specific report from the scientific veterinary
committee. This report has been adopted and can be consulted at the Internet site of the Commission at
the following address:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg24/health/sc/oldcomm4/out_en.html.

C 81 E/108

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.3.2001

The report makes various recommendations to improve the welfare conditions of pigs kept in intensive
conditions, including the necessity to keep sows in social groups.

The Commission will submit a proposal to amend the present legislation based on these recommendations
and practical experiences of the Member States. The draft Commission proposal, that is being prepared and
will be presented to the Council before September 2000, will include in particular provisions banning
individual stalls for sows. The Commission proposal also aims to establish separate areas for the
performance of the normal behaviour patterns of the animals. Enrichment of the environment and
mutilations of the pigs will also be addressed. The Commission has also to take into consideration socio-
economic implications when proposing measures such as those concerning the ban on individual sow
stalls.

(1) OJ C 302, 12.11.1987.
(2) OJ C 272, 28.10.1986.
(3) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991.

(2001/C 81 E/130)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1910/00

by Mar(cid:237)a Sornosa Mart(cid:237)nez (PSE), Mar(cid:237)a Valenciano Mart(cid:237)nez-Orozco (PSE)
and Mar(cid:237)a Rodr(cid:237)guez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(16 June 2000)

Subject: Follow-up to and continuation of the (cid:145)Flower for the Women of Kabul(cid:146) campaign

Since the Taliban came to power in 1996, the women of Afghanistan have suffered brutal discrimination
and repression whereby they are forced to wear the burqua (the garment that covers them completely) and
denied the right to work and to attend hospitals to receive medical assistance. Numerous murders, public
executions and acts of violence have been committed (cid:145)with Government consent(cid:146).

In 1998 the Commission launched a campaign entitled,
(cid:145)A Flower for the Women of Kabul(cid:146), to raise
awareness of the problems experienced by these women and to call for international support. Circum-
stances in Afghanistan later obliged the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) to temporarily
withdraw funding from the projects and organisations operating in Kabul.

Further to the resolution adopted by the European Parliament at its part-session last December (joint text
of B5-0343, 0346, 0371, 0378 and 0384/1999):

Will the Commission give details of measures taken since then and of any action further to the (cid:145)Flower for
the Women of Kabul(cid:146) campaign?

Will the Commission give details of developments with regard to the decision to suspend ECHO(cid:146)s
humanitarian aid in Kabul?

Does the Commission consider that sufficient international pressure has been brought to bear on the
Taliban regime by the European Union and its Member States?

Does the Commission intend to make new proposals or suggestions to the Council to provide increased
support for Afghan women?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(17 July 2000)

The (cid:145)Flower for the women of Kabul(cid:146) campaign was designed for a limited period to heighten international
awareness of the plight of Afghan women in general and in Kabul
in particular. In that regard the
campaign succeeded in its objectives. No specific follow up actions were envisaged or planned at the
outset. On the programming side, however, the Commission has maintained its focus on the humanitarian
needs of women and children in critical sectors like health, education, sanitation and water supply.