WRITTEN QUESTION P-3369/00 by Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission. The European Social Fund in Catalonia.
Date: 2000-10-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commission, European Parliament, dissemination of EU information, interinstitutional relations (EU), parliamentary rules of procedure, written question

C 136 E/226

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.5.2001

What scientific grounds are there for this precautionary measure, and what impact will it have on French
imports and exports of such products?

Furthermore, would the Commission not agree that, in the interests of consumer safety, action to combat
(cid:145)mad cow(cid:146) disease calls for a homogeneous approach at European or even world level?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(24 November 2000)

The French authorities have recently decided to ban the use of intestines from bovine animals of all ages in
human food or animal feed. The intestines shall be removed at the slaughterhouse and destroyed as
specified bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) risk materials.

The French measures go beyond the Community legislation in this area. According to Commission
Decision 2000/418/EC regulating the use of material presenting risks as regards transmissible spongiform
encephalopathies (1) part of the intestine (the ileum) from bovine animals over 12 months shall be removed
and destroyed in all Member States. In the United Kingdom and Portugal, the whole intestine from bovine
animals over 6 months shall be removed and destroyed.

The decision by the French authorities was based on an opinion of the French agency for food safety
(AFSSA), according to which BSE infectivity could be present in the whole intestine in bovine animals of
all ages. The opinion has been submitted for an evaluation to the scientific steering committee, which
advises the Commission in matters relating to BSE.

The Commission has also requested notification by the Member States of all national measures adopted in
relation to BSE. On the basis of a scientific assessment of these measures, the Commission will present
proposals to the Member States aimed at putting in place a coherent Community framework.

The Commission seeks a harmonised approach to rules on food safety within the Community and, as far
as possible, at world level. However, this needs to be seen in the light of differences in BSE risk in different
geographical areas.

(1) OJ L 158, 30.6.2000.

(2001/C 136 E/266)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3369/00

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

(20 October 2000)

Subject: The European Social Fund in Catalonia

In its answer to Written Question P-2749/00 (1) on this subject the Commission refers to the precautionary
suspension of the payments referred to in Article 21 of Regulation (EEC) No 4253/88 (2), amended by
Regulation (EEC) No 2082/93 (3).

Can the Commission say which source is authorised to disseminate such information?

If the information is merely the expression of a personal opinion (cid:129) although this would mean the
Commission has seriously compromised itself (cid:129) does the Commission intend to take any steps to prevent
this kind of thing happening again in the future?

(1) OJ C 103 E, 3.4.2001.
(2) OJ L 374, 31.12.1988, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 193, 31.7.1993, p. 20.

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(22 November 2000)

The Commission answers parliamentary questions in line with its obligation under Article 197 of the EC
Treaty. Each Commission answer to a written question is adopted by the Commission itself and then
forwarded to the Parliament and to the Member of Parliament concerned. It is the Parliament which
publishes the answers under Article 44 of its rules.