WRITTEN QUESTION E-3240/00 by Gabriele Stauner (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Fléchard firm's involvement in adulterated butter fraud.
Date: 2000-10-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: agro-industry, butter, fraud against the EU

19.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 174 E/27

In its recommendations following this mission, the FVO asked the French authorities to inform the
Commission of the action taken to ensure that route plans are properly used and signed. Although the
French authorities have informed the FVO that they have addressed several of the recommendations of this
report in the time laid down, the issue of route plans was not satisfactorily dealt with and the FVO has
asked for further clarification on this point. The Irish authorities have been similarly informed of these
findings and a meeting has been scheduled to discuss this issue.

The reports of the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) indicate that, in general, the level of priority given to
the control of route plans has not been high in many Member States. The central authorities of many
Member States do not provide detailed instructions or particular assistance to local authorities in relation
to the check of the route plans. The FVO has made it a priority to assess the control of route plans, during
its missions in the field of animal welfare during transport and to make recommendations to the Member
State concerned and to the Commission where appropriate.

Finally, the Commission has recently adopted a report on the implementation in the Member States of the
Community legislation on the protection of animals during transport (1). This document is submitted to the
Council and to the Parliament. The Commission intends to present proposals based on the conclusions of
include initiatives to address the problem of insufficient enforcement of the
this report, which will
travelling time limits.

The failure of Member States to enforce essential provisions of the current Directive, Council Directive 95/
29/EC of 29 June 1995 amending Directive 90/628/EEC concerning the protection of animals during
transport (2), also constitutes a breach of Community Law which the Commission may, in appropriate
cases, pursue under Article 226 (ex Article 169) of the EC Treaty. The Commission will consider taking
action under Article 226 in the above case unless it is satisfied that adequate action has been taken by
both Ireland and France to ensure respect of the Directive.

(1) COM(2000) 809 final.
(2) OJ L 148, 30.6.1995.

(2001/C 174 E/027)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3240/00

by Gabriele Stauner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 October 2000)

Subject: FlØchard firm(cid:146)s involvement in adulterated butter fraud

On 6 July 2000 the Commission issued a press release from its Anti-Fraud Office OLAF concerning a case
of fraud involving adulterated butter.

The above press release reports that, over a period of several years, members of a Camorra clan operating
in the Naples area had been producing adulterated butter on a large scale and marketing it with the help of
Italian, French and Belgian firms.

The adulterated butter was composed of almost one third chemical additives, vegetable fat, beef tallow and
other substances normally intended for use in cosmetics. In all, around 16 000 tonnes of adulterated butter
were produced between 1997 and 1999.

Some of the adulterated butter was exported to third countries, with export refunds being paid from the
Community budget. Some was used in baking, again receiving aid from the Community budget.

Can the Commission confirm that information from the competent judicial authorities in France and

1.
Italy shows that the FlØchard firm played a key role in the marketing of adulterated butter?

C 174 E/28

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

19.6.2001

Is it true that the damage to the Community budget arising from this butter fraud can be expected to

2.
amount to at least € 45 million?

3. What consequences has this had for FlØchard?

(a) Was the firm placed on the blacklist (Regulation No 1469/95)?

(b) Were all payments to the firm from the Community budget halted? If so, when? If not, why not?

(c) Has the firm been asked to repay export refunds or other forms of aid wrongly paid to it? If so, when

and what amount? If not, why not?

4.
Does the Commission stand by its position (letter of 5 July 2000 from Commissioner Schreyer/
D(2000)408) that it cannot provide any information on the payments made to FlØchard from the
Community budget?

Does the Commission not consider full information to be necessary in view of the severity of the

5.
allegations made against the above firm?

(2001/C 174 E/028)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3478/00

by Gabriele Stauner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(31 October 2000)

Subject: Payments to the firm FlØchard

According to reports in the press, the firm FlØchard is once again involved in a case of fraud in connection
with manipulated butter. Early in 1992 allegations had already been made regarding the firm(cid:146)s involvement
in the fraudulent diversion to Poland of butter intended for the former Soviet Union.

In a letter delivered to me by an usher on 5 July 2000 the Commissioner responsible for budgetary matters
invoked the provisions of the framework agreement between Parliament and the Commission to justify her
refusal to disclose to me what sums FlØchard has received from the Community budget in recent years.

Is the Commission now prepared to answer the following questions:

(cid:129) Is it true that FlØchard received the following sums in Community aid for exports to third countries:

(cid:129) 1996: FF 29 129 659 (2 069 tonnes of butter);

(cid:129) 1997: FF 105 747 713 (6 931 tonnes of butter);

(cid:129) 1998: FF 72 907 357 (3 932 tonnes of butter).

(cid:129) If so, since when has the Commission been in possession of this information?

(cid:129) If not, what are the correct figures?

Can the Commission also state what sums have been paid to the firm in connection with food aid?

Finally, if appropriate can the Commission state what sums in processing aid the firm has received from
the Community budget?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-3240/00 and P-3478/00
given by Mrs Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(14 December 2000)

Investigations into adulterated butter are being conducted by the authorities of the Member States, in
cooperation with the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). No final conclusions have yet been drawn as to