WRITTEN QUESTION E-1864/00 by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Marketing standards applicable to avocados.
Date: 2000-06-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU control, European standard, marketing standard, tropical fruit, weights and measures

13.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/103

What is the Council(cid:146)s view of the constant efforts made by the Spanish Government, certain political
parties and various bodies to prevent progress on the use of Catalan in public spheres relating to
administration in Catalunya, as shown by what has happened to the Rovira y Virgili University?

Reply

(10 October 2000)

The matter raised in the Honourable Member(cid:146)s question does not fall within the sphere of competence of
the Council, which, moreover, never comments on the rulings of Member States(cid:146) courts.

(2001/C 81 E/124)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1864/00

by Jorge HernÆndez Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Marketing standards applicable to avocados

(9 June 2000)

A draft regulation exists seeking to amend Commission Regulation (EC) No 831/97 establishing marketing
standards applicable to avocados with regard to size and dry matter content.

The second recital of the draft regulation claims that trade in small avocados is developing.

Could the Commission please explain the basis for this claim, given that in Spain for the 1999/2000
season, avocado producers have had problems selling small sizes, particularly the Hass variety?

Given that
the second recital of Commission Regulation No 1167/99 of 3 June 1999, amending
Regulation No 831/97 states that (cid:145)the Community standard for avocados should be brought into line
with the corresponding UN/ECE standard(cid:146), and given that UN/ECE standard FFV-42 establishes that the
final sizing code is 30, and the minimum weight of avocados must not be less than 125 grams, how can
the inclusion of sizes which do not appear in the UN/ECE standard be justified, when Article 2(2) of
Regulation No 2200/96 establishing the COM in fruit and vegetables says that UN/ECE standards are to be
taken into account when adopting standards for fruit and vegetables?

Furthermore, what measures the Commission intend to take to ensure that controls are carried out on the
minimum dry matter content of non-Community avocados at the port of entry?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(19 July 2000)

Small avocados of the Hass variety are apparently offered for sale on the British and German markets,
mainly prepacked. There is sustained demand for them from consumers, and the taste of these small
avocados, virtually all of which originate in Spain, is of sufficiently high quality to show that, despite their
small size, they have reached an adequate stage of development.

The Commission has therefore begun to consider, in cooperation with the experts from the Member States
responsible for standards for fruit and vegetables, whether the minimum size for avocados of the Hass
variety should be reduced. This discussion, which is purely technical in nature, is not yet finished, and the
Commission has therefore not submitted a draft regulation to the Management Committee for Fresh Fruit
and Vegetables, in accordance with Article 46(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 of 28 October
1996 on the common organisation of the market in fruit and vegetables (1).

C 81 E/104

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.3.2001

The Commission would, however, point out that, at its last meeting, the (cid:145)fresh fruit and vegetables(cid:146)
specialised section of the European Office of the United Nations (ECE/UN) adopted a recommendation to
reduce the minimum weight of avocados of the Hass variety to 100 grams.

The possibility of including provisions on their minimum dry matter content in the marketing standard for
avocados has also been raised during these technical discussions. For the moment, there is no consensus
on this point, which therefore requires further examination. However,
if the Community marketing
standard for avocados were amended in this way, the new provisions would apply equally to avocados
from outside the Community and those grown within the Community.

(1) OJ L 297, 21.11.1996.

(2001/C 81 E/125)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1882/00

by Emilio MenØndez del Valle (PSE) to the Council

(13 June 2000)

Subject: Conflicts in Africa

At its meeting in Brussels on 22 and 23 May 2000 the General Affairs Council rightly stressed the
complexity of the factors involved in the conflict in the Great Lakes region of Africa.

The provisional version of the Council press release mentions political, economic and social factors.

Does the Council not take the view that in considering the factors determining the conflicts which are
tearing Africa apart it should take cultural factors into account?

Reply

(10 October 2000)

The Council(cid:146)s conclusions would not claim to be comprehensive, listing all the factors which contribute to
the conflicts in question. Cultural factors of course also play a role.

(2001/C 81 E/126)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1886/00

by Concepci(cid:243) Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Discontinuation of the ECIP programme

(9 June 2000)

The Commission submitted a proposal for a regulation to Parliament and the Council for the discontinua-
tion of the financial instrument ECIP as of 31 December 1999.

Can the Commission explain why applications submitted before that date have not been considered?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(17 July 2000)

While recognising the success of the European Community Investment Partners (ECIP) instrument in recent
its closure has been judged necessary in view of the need to rationalise the system of rules
years,