WRITTEN QUESTION E-3466/00 by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Sale of meat and milk from cows affected with cattle-wasting disease.
Date: 2000-11-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European social policy, Netherlands, animal disease, beef, milk

C 151 E/178

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

22.5.2001

(2001/C 151 E/204)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3466/00

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(8 November 2000)

Subject: Sale of meat and milk from cows affected with (cid:145)cattle-wasting disease(cid:146)

Is the Commission aware that in the Netherlands meat and milk have been sold from cows suffering
1.
from (cid:145)cattle-wasting disease(cid:146), i.e., cows which after vaccination against bovine flu lose weight and also
suffer swelling, fungal infections, fertility problems, inflammation of the joints and inflamed udders, despite
the fact that 7 000 farmers have reported this illness and the Ministry of Agriculture acknowledges that
350 farms are affected? [Source: TV current affairs programme (cid:145)Netwerk(cid:146), 19 October 2000]

How was it possible for the meat from these cows to be passed for consumption without the

2.
industry or the inspection services playing an active role in providing the public with information?

3. What action will the Commission take (cid:129) or what action has it already taken (cid:129) to put a stop to any
further spread of this meat and milk for human consumption?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(20 December 2000)

The Commission would like to draw the attention of the Honourable Member to the replies to the Written
Questions P-768/00 by Mr de Roo (1), P-788/00 by Mrs Thyssen (2) and P-1410/00 by Mr de Roo (3), where
information has been given on the Commission approach to the (cid:145)wasting cattle(cid:146) problem.

As mentioned in these replies, the Commission(cid:146)s food and veterinary office (FVO) carried out an on-the-
spot check in the Netherlands on 2-4 May 2000. The report (4) has been submitted to the Parliament and
released on the Internet in accordance with the normal practice. It noted that there was still uncertainty on
the origin of this problem and on its magnitude. It made a number of recommendations, in relation to
which the Dutch authorities have taken several actions, which have been presented and discussed in a
recent meeting of the standing veterinary committee.

The latest information provided by the Netherlands shows investigations on the origin and the potential
risks related to the (cid:145)wasting cattle(cid:146) have been and are still being carried out. The available results of these
investigations have not indicated specific risks for public health and have also suggested that this problem
has ceased to occur. The information shows that milk and the meat of suspect animals are being excluded
from the food chain, as required by Community legislation.

The Commission is not aware of any recent information suggesting that the above requirements are not
being observed.

The results of the investigations in the Netherlands are being reviewed by the appropriate scientific
committee.

The Commission is therefore continuing to follow the situation carefully, taking into consideration factual
information concerning the phenomenon, scientific knowledge, provisions of Community legislation and
the advice of the experts.

(1) OJ C 26 E, 26.1.2001, p. 109.
(2) OJ C 26 E, 26.1.2001, p. 109.
(3) OJ C 103 E, 3.4.2001.
(4) document DG SANCO/1169/2000-MR final.