WRITTEN QUESTION E-2398/00 by Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN) to the Commission. Transport and distribution of food on the island of Ginostra.
Date: 2000-07-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: derogation from EU law, food hygiene, island region

C 103 E/144

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.4.2001

been documented and condemned by Human Rights Watch, humanitarian organisations and international
bodies. These appalling practices, of which rich European patients have apparently also taken advantage,
were condemned in a European Parliament resolution of 14 May 1998 (Resolution B4-0496/98) (1), which
called on the Commission and Council to make representations to the People(cid:146)s Republic of China with a
view to ending the trade in human organs.

1.
As a supporter of China(cid:146)s entry into the World Trade Organisation, albeit subject to the human
rights clause, does the Council not think that the sense of horror generated throughout the world by these
inhuman practices is a serious obstacle to any further normalisation of relations with the People(cid:146)s Republic
of China?

2. Will the Council specify what measures it has taken or intends to take vis-(cid:224)-vis the authorities of the
People(cid:146)s Republic of China, the United Nations and the World Trade Organisation to end the trade in
human organs removed from persons sentenced to death?

3. Will the Council inform the European Parliament what has been done to implement the measures
called for in its resolution of 14 May 1998 and with what results?

(1) OJ C 167, 1.6.1998, p. 224.

Reply

(10 November 2000)

The Council is aware of the situation referred to by the Honourable Member. The Union systematically
expresses its concerns on human rights in China, in particular at the dialogue sessions on human rights
between China and the EU. Our concerns include the excessive use of the death penalty in China. The
Council certainly takes account of the pertinent resolutions of the European Parliament in adopting its
positions.

(2001/C 103 E/161)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2398/00

by Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN) to the Commission

(18 July 2000)

Subject: Transport and distribution of food on the island of Ginostra

Current Community directives (93/43/EEC (1) and 96/3/EC (2)) concerning the hygiene of foodstuffs lay
down stringent rules and obligations with regard to the transport and distribution of food throughout the
European Union. The island of Ginostra, a ward of the Mediterranean island of Stromboli, has neither an
airport nor a port for the mooring of ships and hydrofoils. The lack of suitable port infrastructure in
Ginostra obliges the transporters and distributors of essential goods to tranship the goods in a precarious
and irregular manner on to a boat which acts as a shuttle between the shore and the boats of the
scheduled service which regularly drop anchor offshore. This unavoidable state of affairs means that
Community laws are breached and operators are therefore liable to be penalised by the Italian government
supervisory bodies.

Should the Commission not consider conducting an urgent review of Community legislation governing the
transport and distribution of foodstuffs, granting exemptions for the smaller islands of the EU, which
cannot be adequately supplied in that they have no landing stages for suitably equipped vessels?

What alternative solutions does the Commission intend to propose to ensure that the above operators (cid:129)
guilty only of wishing to safeguard the right of the inhabitants of Ginostra to continue living on their
island (cid:129) are able to work within the confines of the law once again?

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 103 E/145

Will the Commission send an official to Ginostra to report on the serious problems faced by the island(cid:146)s
inhabitants with regard to the transport and distribution of food?

(1) OJ L 175, 19.7.1993, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 21, 27.1.1996, p. 42.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(29 September 2000)

The Commission appreciates that the transport of food to regions suffering from special geographical
constraints or affected by supply difficulties presents particular challenges. It is however very difficult to
know from the question posed by the honourable Member what element contained in Community
legislation is difficult to implement when transporting goods to the isle of Ginostra. The Commission
believes that the present legislation, as contained in Council Directive 93/43/EEC of 14 June 1993, on the
hygiene of foodstuffs, is of a very general nature and its implementation should therefore be generally
applicable. Commission Directive 96/3/Euratom, ECSC, EC of 26 January 1996 granting a derogation from
certain provisions of Council Directive 93/43/EEC on the hygiene of foodstuffs as regards the transport of
bulk liquid oils and fats by sea, covers the very particular situation of bulk transport of oils and fats in
containers that are also used for the transport of other goods. It would be useful for the Commission to
receive more precise information on what point these Community rules pose particular problems.

The Commission is very much concerned about the difficulties and constraints linked to the geographical
situation of certain areas and although it is believed that the present Community food hygiene legislation is
adequate, it is impossible to foresee every situation in Community legislation. Proposals have therefore
been prepared to leave, as a matter of subsidiarity, more room to the Member States to evaluate on the
spot the situation of areas with particular geographical constraints, and to adapt the rules where necessary
so as to fit the particular situation. This flexibility must in no way compromise food safety.

In view of the above, it does not seem necessary to send, as suggested by the Honourable Member, a
Commission expert on the spot.

(2001/C 103 E/162)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2401/00

by Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(18 July 2000)

Subject: Transposal of the Community Directive on waste in Italy

The Italian Parliament is currently discussing a bill amending decree 27/97 concerning waste. This draft
law includes rules interpreting the concept of (cid:145)disposal(cid:146) laid down in the Community definition of waste
included in Directive 75/442/EEC (1).

1.

2.

Is the Commission aware of this bill?

Is there any requirement for the Italian Parliament to notify the Commission of this bill?

3.
Given that Community law prohibits a Member States from adopting internal rules laying down
criteria for the interpretation for a directive, what measures will it take to ensure uniform application of
Directive 75/442/EEC throughout Community territory?

(1) OJ L 194, 25.7.1975, p. 39.