WRITTEN QUESTION P-3575/00 by Yves Piétrasanta (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Food poisoning in Barcelona.
Date: 2000-11-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Catalonia, fact-finding mission, food contamination, health legislation, infringement of EU law, public health

6.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 163 E/167

(2001/C 163 E/189)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3574/00

by Caroline Lucas (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(13 November 2000)

Subject: Report on animal welfare required under Council Directive 98/58

Article 8 of Council Directive 98/58 (1) concerning the protection of animals kept for farming purposes
requires the Commission, before 30 June 1999, to submit to the Council a report relating to the impact on
farm animal welfare of the World Trade Organisation rules.

In reply to Written Question P-2539/99 (2) on 27 January 2000 the Commission stated that the report
would be presented to the Council shortly. As the negotiations on the WTO Agreement on Agriculture
have now begun, does the Commission agree that this report is essential to assist in developing the EU(cid:146)s
negotiating position and that it could also play an important role in persuading other WTO members that
in raising animal welfare issues the EC is not attempting to introduce new types of non-tariff barriers?

In the light of this, when does the Commission intend to submit to the Council the report required by
Directive 98/58?

(1) OJ L 221, 8.8.1998, p. 23.
(2) OJ C 219 E, 1.8.2000, p. 178.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(8 January 2001)

Council Directive 98/58/EC of 29 July 1998 concerning the protection of animals kept for farming
purposes, Article 8, obliges the Commission to submit a report to the Council on the comparison of
animal welfare provisions in the Community and in third countries.

The Commission has received information on available legislation or guidelines in the field of animal
protection on the farm, during transport and at the time of slaughtering from 73 third countries who
supply the Community with red meat, poultry meat, fishery products and live animals. The Commission
intends to adopt the report in the first half of 2001.

The Honourable Member may be reassured that the Commission has made clear in the course of the
ongoing negotiations on the World trade organisation (WTO) Agreement on Agriculture that in raising
animal welfare issues the Community is not attempting to introduce new types of non-tariff barriers. The
Commission also agrees that the forthcoming report will contribute significantly to the WTO debate on
animal welfare issues. The Commission underlines the strong ethical component to this debate, which
should not be limited to technical considerations.

(2001/C 163 E/190)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3575/00

by Yves PiØtrasanta (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(13 November 2000)

Subject: Food poisoning in Barcelona

Lestonac School in Barcelona has been hit by an outbreak of food poisoning, caused by contaminated
meat, which began on 2 October, and affected over 150 pupils.

Is the Commission aware of this incident?

C 163 E/168

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2001

Has it checked whether there was a failure to observe EU regulations on hygiene in slaughterhouses and
food handling?

Does it intend to open an enquiry in order to identify where responsibility may or may not lie?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(9 January 2001)

The Commission was not informed officially of the outbreak of food poisoning in Barcelona due to the
bacterium E. coli. On becoming aware of it indirectly and having noted references to it in a Spanish
language newspaper, the Commission contacted the relevant Spanish authorities for information. The
level, not having extended to other
authorities explained that the matter was being handled at local
Member States.

There are two criteria necessary to permit the launching of a rapid alert system notification. These are,
firstly, that the matter presents a grave risk to human health and, secondly, that the products in question
affect more than one Member State. If one of these criteria is not met, the problem is managed locally or
nationally.

The proposal (1) to modify Council Directive 92/59/EEC of 29 June 1992 on general product safety (2)
includes a provision whereby Member States will be obliged to report incidents occurring at national level.

(1) OJ C 337 E, 28.11.2000.
(2) OJ L 228, 11.8.1992.

(2001/C 163 E/191)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3576/00

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(17 November 2000)

Subject: Tax concessions following natural disasters

In the event of a natural disaster, the aid provided both to individuals and organisations must be aimed at
returning the areas hit to the situation they were in prior to the disaster. Aid to local businesses is
therefore important with a view to enabling the local economy to recover.

Would the Commission ask the governments of the Member States to adopt special direct measures
whenever a natural disaster occurs, such as the suspension of companies(cid:146) commercial and legal payment
obligations?

Would it also take action to ensure that reconstruction work is exempted from VAT or that the VAT paid
thereon is fully reimbursed?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(29 January 2001)

The exemptions provided for in Community legislation on VAT constitute exceptions to the principle
established in Article 2 of the Sixth Council Directive 77/388/EEC of 17 May 1977 on the harmonisation
of the laws of the Member States relating to turnover taxes (cid:129) Common system of value added tax:
uniform basis of assessment. (1) According to this the supply of all goods and services effected for
consideration by a taxable person is subject to value added tax. The aim of the Community legislator in
including a common list of exemptions in the Sixth Directive was both to avoid different VAT treatment of
the same situations within the Community and ensure comparable collection of own resources in all the
Member States.