WRITTEN QUESTION E-2272/00 by Vincenzo Lavarra (PSE), Giovanni Procacci (ELDR) and Giovanni Pittella (PSE) to the Commission. Protecting the method of production, and quality, of mozzarella cheese.
Date: 2000-07-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: common agricultural policy, quality control of agricultural products, soft cheese

C 103 E/102

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.4.2001

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(11 September 2000)

The Commission shares the concern of the Honourable Member about the new Russian requirement on
travel insurance under Regulation No 1488 of the Russian Federation.

The Commission raised this issue at the Union-Russia subcommittee on trade and industry, when it last
met in Moscow on 9-10 March 2000. The Russian response was that it had been introduced on the basis
of reciprocity in view of analogous requirements in force in the Schengen countries vis-(cid:224)-vis Russian
travellers.

The Commission is continuing to examine this matter,
including the implications for international
insurance conventions, and is also checking Member States(cid:146) practice with regard to travel insurance. The
Commission may raise the question again at forthcoming meetings with Russia.

(2001/C 103 E/111)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2271/00

by Jean-Claude Fruteau (PSE) to the Commission

(7 July 2000)

Subject: Banana import fraud

Forged import licences for bananas have been in circulation on European territory for almost a year.
164 000 tonnes of bananas have entered our market in this way. The volume of fraudulently imported
bananas and the length of time over which this practice has gone on have caused prices to collapse, and
pose urgent questions as to the efficacy of controls.

What measures does the Commission intend to take to improve controls on the issuing of import licences?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(20 September 2000)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to written P-2237/00 by Mr Fruteau (1).

(1) See p. 93.

(2001/C 103 E/112)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2272/00

by Vincenzo Lavarra (PSE), Giovanni Procacci (ELDR)
and Giovanni Pittella (PSE) to the Commission

(7 July 2000)

Subject: Protecting the method of production, and quality, of mozzarella cheese

Is the Commission aware that, in Italy, only fresh milk may be used to make mozzarella cheese, and

1.
milk derivatives, and powdered milk in particular, may not be used for that purpose?

2.
In order to guarantee the authenticity of the products in question, would it not be appropriate for
the Commission to draw up a proposal for a regulation laying down rules concerning their production
that would apply to all producers in the Community,
thus maintaining both the quality and the
authenticity of the products, which would also benefit consumers?

3.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 103 E/103

Could the Commission state its position on this subject in the near future in order to give producers

3.
in the sector more certainty?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(8 September 2000)

Yes, the Commission is aware that mozzarella may be produced in Italy only with liquid milk and

1.
not milk powder.

2.
To preserve the traditional character of agricultural products intended for human consumption the
Community has introduced protection for those products and foodstuffs whose characteristics link them to
their geographical origin, and also special arrangements for traditional specialities. Two regulations have
been in place to this end since 1992.

Under the first regulation, Council Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 of the Council of 14 July 1992 on the
protection of geographical
indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and food-
stuffs (1), (cid:145)Mozzarella di Bufala Campana(cid:146) produced from buffalo milk, was granted protected designation of
origin (PDO) status within the 15 Member States by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1107/96 of 12 June
1996 on the registration of geographical indications and designations under the procedure laid down in
Article 17 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 (2). Under Article 13(1) of the second regulation,
Council Regulation (EEC) No 2082/92 of 14 July 1992 on certificates of specific character for agricultural
products and foodstuffs (1), mozzarella produced from cow(cid:146)s milk was also registered in the 15 Member
States as a (cid:145)traditional speciality guaranteed(cid:146)
(TSG) by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2527/98 of
25 November 1998 supplementing the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 2301/97 on the entry of certain
names in the (cid:145)Register of certificates of specific character(cid:146) provided for in Council Regulation (EEC)
No 2082/92 (3).

As regards future policy on the matter, the Commission believes that current legislation and the
3.
quality policy conducted under the above two regulations both adequately defend the status of mozzarella,
a cheese produced using traditional methods.

(1) OJ L 208, 24.7.1992.
(2) OJ L 148, 21.6.1996.
(3) OJ L 317, 26.11.1998.

(2001/C 103 E/113)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2273/00

by Armando Cossutta (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(7 July 2000)

Subject: Reform of the Common Organisation of the Market in rice

The proposed reform of the Common Organisation of the Market in rice will introduce important (cid:129)
and, in my opinion, dangerous (cid:129) changes in the law on Community aid in that sector.

The Commissioner responsible for agriculture and fisheries, Franz Fischler, has indicated some of the main
points of the proposed reform, including:

(cid:129) introduction of 10 % set aside,

(cid:129) abolition of the intervention price,

(cid:129) abolition of public stockpiling,

(cid:129) reduction of aid available under the CAP.