WRITTEN QUESTION E-1850/00 by Elizabeth Lynne (ELDR) to the Commission. Foie gras in ducks and geese.
Date: 2000-06-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: alternative agricultural production, animal welfare, fattening, intra-EU trade, market approval, marketing standard, poultry

C 89 E/98

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.3.2001

That being so, does the Council intend (cid:129) given the helpful attitude of the Austrian government and the
doubts expressed by some Member States (cid:129) to abandon this senseless and uncivilised sanctions strategy?

Reply

(23 October 2000)

The Council has not given its views on this subject and is therefore not in a position to reply to the
Honourable Member(cid:146)s question.

(2001/C 89 E/104)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1844/00

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Council

(13 June 2000)

Subject: EU sanctions and Austria (IV)

In the opinion of many legal experts this statement lacks any legal basis. Furthermore these sanctions do
not merely cover (cid:145)bilateral affairs(cid:146), as is often speciously argued. They have an effect on the relations
between Member States and on their joint work, and thus on the Community as a whole.

The high-level representatives of the 14 Member States and the leaders of Austria clearly thought then that
if they acted quickly they could prevent the FP(cid:214) from joining the government. However, the statement
failed in its original purpose and has also significantly harmed the reputation of the European Union.

When will the Council finally come round to abandoning this counter-productive strategy which goes
against the ideals of the Community, repeal the statement and begin a productive dialogue with the
Republic of Austria (cid:129) which remains a reliable and trustworthy partner (cid:129) so that relations can be
normalised again?

Reply

(23 October 2000)

The Council has not stated its position on this subject and is therefore unable to reply to the Honourable
Member(cid:146)s question.

(2001/C 89 E/105)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1850/00

by Elizabeth Lynne (ELDR) to the Commission

(9 June 2000)

Subject: Foie gras in ducks and geese

I understand that the report on Welfare Aspects of the Production of Foie Gras in Ducks and Geese,
prepared for the European Commission by the Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal
Welfare in 1998, concluded that the practice of force-feeding was detrimental to the welfare of birds. It
is also noted that alternative products made from the livers of non-force-fed animals are available on the
market. Under the Community(cid:146)s poultry-meat marketing rules, can these alternative products be sold as
foie gras? Are any measures to be taken to phase out the force-feeding of birds throughout the EU?

20.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 89 E/99

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(25 July 2000)

Two recommendations for the protection of ducks and geese bred for the production of foie gras were
adopted in June 1999 in the framework of the European Convention for the protection of animals kept for
farming purposes. The Commission and the Member States actively participated in the process of drafting
and adoption of these recommendations. The Member States, which are all contracting parties to the
Convention, are expected to give effect to the recommendations. The report mentioned by the Honourable
Member was used as reference for the finalization of these recommendations.

The recommendations recognize the necessity to keep the birds in social groups and prohibit the use of
small individual cages which are currently used. The recommendation states that such a prohibition should
come into effect on 31st December 2004 for new or replacement accommodation and for all accom-
modation on 31st December 2010 at the latest.

The recommendations also call for further research to develop alternative techniques that do not require
force feeding for the production of foie gras. It has been agreed that until new scientific evidence on
alternative methods and their welfare aspects is available, the production of foie gras should be carried out
only where it is current practice and then only in accordance with standards laid down in domestic law.

In the Community, Council Directive 98/58/EC of 20 July 1998 (1), provides the main principles for the
protection of all species of animals kept for farming purposes. It addresses the welfare requirements to be
applied for the protection of animals kept for the different types of production, including the production
of foie gras. The Directive also imposes a responsibility on the owner or keeper of the animals to ensure
that their welfare respects the minimum requirements provided.

The Directive also provides a legal base for proposals for Community measures in relation to
the Convention or recommendations made under it, if this is necessary for its uniform application within
the Community. If necessary, in accordance with the provisions of Article 5 of Council Directive 98/58/EC,
the Commission will submit to the Council further appropriate proposals for the uniform application
of the above mentioned recommendations.

Force-feeding is not a prerequisite for classifying livers as foie gras. Commission Regulation (EEC)
No 1538/91 of 5 June 1991 introducing detailed rules for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 1606/90
on certain marketing standards for poultry meat (2) provides that foie gras are livers of geese or of certain
species of ducks (cid:145)which have been fed in such a way as to produce hepatic fatty cellular hypertrophy(cid:146). The
livers must be of uniform colour and weigh at least 300g in the case of ducks and 400g in the case of
geese.

(1) OJ L 221, 8.8.1998.
(2) OJ L 143, 7.6.1991.

(2001/C 89 E/106)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1857/00

by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) and Alonso Puerta (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(13 June 2000)

Subject: Languages used for Council press releases

What is the Council(cid:146)s linguistic policy and usage with regard to the media?

Is it true that press releases issued after Council meetings are in French and English only?

In the last five years, have there been any protests from any Member State government in this connection,
or any proposals that this policy should be changed?