WRITTEN QUESTION P-2098/00 by Elspeth Attwooll (ELDR) to the Commission. Amnesic Shellfish Poison.
Date: 2000-06-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: intra-EU trade, mollusc, toxic substance, veterinary legislation

C 89 E/148

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.3.2001

Would the Commission provide a detailed account of any discussions, acts of political and/or economic
cooperation and, more generally, any relations that have existed (cid:129) or exist at present -between the EU and
Iran since September 1999?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(17 July 2000)

The Commission fully shares the concern over the lack of respect for human rights in Iran expressed in the
draft resolution B5-0079/1999 by the Parliament. In the comprehensive dialogue between the Union and
Iran, questions regarding human rights are consistently raised by the Union.

On the specific situation of the 13 Iranian Jews and 8 Muslims detained on charges of espionage, a
number of demarches have been made by the Union as well as by individual Member States in the course
of last year. The Union has stressed the importance of a free and fair trial and was disappointed to see that
the trial was not open to observers. Following the verdict on 1 July 2000, the Union stated its concern and
its wish that the Court of Appeal would alleviate the punishments.

The comprehensive dialogue between the Union Troika and Iran, which started in 1998, continues with
meetings at the level of deputy minister or state secretary every six months. A meeting was held in
Helsinki in December 1999 and the latest was held in Tehran in June 2000. All issues of importance,
including human rights and also this trial, are regularly raised.

The Commission has for some years funded assistance to Iran in the area of refugee assistance through the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and through international non-governmental
organisations. A care and maintenance project implemented by MØdecins sans frontiŁres (MSF)-France was
launched early this year. Together with a humanitarian project (hospital) launched following an earthquake
some years ago, these are the only cooperation activities with Iran currently being implemented.

While the political situation in Iran remains a matter of concern, the positive developments with the recent
parliamentary election and Iran(cid:146)s growing sensitivity to international pressure, open new possibilities to
develop a constructive dialogue on human rights issues with the Iranian government. The Commission will
continue to follow the situation closely in order to seize any opportunity to support this positive change.

(2001/C 89 E/163)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2098/00

by Elspeth Attwooll (ELDR) to the Commission

(16 June 2000)

Subject: Amnesic Shellfish Poison

At a meeting on 15 December 1999, the European Commission Standing Veterinary Committee decided
to create a working group to examine testing methods for the detection of Amnesic Shellfish Poison (ASP)
in scallops.

Has the working group concluded its examination of the issue, and if so, will
its findings place the
Standing Veterinary Committee in a position to make swift recommendations for a modification of
Directive 97/61 (1) on ASP testing in order to clarify the provisions of this Directive,
in particular by
laying down a precise definition of standard practice across all Member States for the testing of scallops?

Does the Commission accept that practice in this area currently differs from Member State to Member
State, and that this constitutes a serious threat to the single market in scallops?

(1) OJ L 295, 29.10.1997, p. 35.

20.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 89 E/149

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(13 July 2000)

The standing veterinary committee decided at the meeting of 15 December 1999 to create a group of
experts and to consult the Community and the national reference laboratories for marine biotoxins about
the presence of amnesic shellfish poison (ASP) in shellfish, particularly in scallops, and the anatomical
distribution of this toxin in the edible parts of the molluscs. The experts group met in Brussels on
17 February 2000 and prepared draft conclusions to be presented for discussions to the plenary meeting
of the Community national reference laboratories.

The meeting of the laboratories held on 15-17 March 2000 welcomed the draft conclusions of the expert
the available data on inter-animal variability, a further
group, but considered that,
assessment should be made by the working group taking account of the outcome of ongoing scientific
studies on the matter. The group will meet again when this scientific data is available, which the
Commission hopes will be this autumn.

in the light of

The Commission is aware of the difference between Member States in the application of the analytical
tests. Nevertheless the Commission is also aware of the incomplete science on the subject. This is why over
the last two years, different experts have been working on the subject, co-ordinated by the Community
reference laboratory for marine biotoxins.

Once the final conclusions are available, the Commission will consider whether a legislative proposal is
necessary.

(2001/C 89 E/164)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2100/00

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(30 June 2000)

Subject: Death of dolphins in EU waters

In view of reports that hundreds of dolphins in EU waters are being caught and drowned, and further to
my Written Question E-0935/00 (1), will the Commission now draw up and publish a plan of action, in
accordance with a strict timetable, to resolve the problem and prevent the death of dolphins, either by the
application of improved scientific techniques or by a ban on the use of pelagic trawls, as already applied in
some Member States?

(1) OJ C 53 E, 20.2.2001, p. 42.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(29 August 2000)

At the Fisheries Council of 16 June 2000, the Commission expressed its deepest concern on this and
similar issues. To follow up, the Commission will very soon contact Member States requesting them to
inform it of what actions they have taken or intend to take at national
level to limit by-catches of
cetaceans in commercial fisheries. Furthermore, the Commission indicated its intention to give priority to
further research and to consider what might be done in the immediate future.