WRITTEN QUESTION E-3568/00 by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission. When is crab paste not crab paste?.
Date: 2000-11-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: consumer information, crustacean, food standard, labelling, preserved product

6.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 163 E/165

(2001/C 163 E/186)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3564/00

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 November 2000)

Subject: Transport of live animals for slaughter

The protection of animals during transport is governed by Directive 91/628 (1), as amended by Directive
95/29 (2), which lay down provisions improving the international carriage of goods by road in relation to
loading density, rest periods during journeys, space allowances and a ban on the transport of injured or ill
animals. However, this directive has not actually been transposed into national
legislation by a large
number of countries and, in addition, there are no checks to ensure that the rules laid down in Directive
95/29 are being complied with.

In view of the above, can the Commission state when it intends to revise the 1995 directive so as to put
an end to the inhumane treatment to which animals are subjected during transport? How does it intend to
ensure better monitoring of transport?

(1) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991, p. 17.
(2) OJ L 148, 30.6.1995, p. 52.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(17 January 2001)

All Member States have now transposed Directive 91/628/EC of 19 November 1991, as amended by
Directive 95/29/EC of 29 June 1995 concerning the protection of animals during transport, into their
national legislation.

The Commission(cid:146)s Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) carries out periodic inspection missions within the
Member States in order to check actions taken by the authorities to ensure compliance with the Directives.
Serious deficiencies in relation to the implementation of the national legislation transposing the Directives
in a number of Member States have come to light as a result of FVO missions and complaints brought to
the Commission(cid:146)s attention by animal welfare organisations. The Commission has already opened
infringement proceedings under Article 226 (ex Article 169) of the EC Treaty against some Member States
in this connection.

The Commission is also planning for the near future a number of important initiatives aimed at improving
the situation.

The Commission has recently adopted a report (1) on experience acquired since the implementation of the
Directive on the protection of animals during transport. The document is submitted to the Council and to
the Parliament. This report sets out a number of ways in which the regulatory framework in this area can
be improved.

(1) COM(2000) 809 final.

(2001/C 163 E/187)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3568/00

by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission

(17 November 2000)

Subject: When is crab paste not crab paste?

Can the Commission comment on the experience of my constituent, Mr D. Baker of Thorpe Bay, Essex,
who was assured that a pot of (cid:145)crab paste(cid:146) fully met European labelling and consumer rights standards,
when in fact the pot included only 10 % crab, 40 % mackerel, 24 % cod and 26 % other ingredients? What
is the minimum crab content beneath which the designation (cid:145)crab paste(cid:146)
is impermissible? Does the
Commission intend to approach a review of its legislation in this respect sideways like a crab, or head-on?

C 163 E/166

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2001

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(23 January 2001)

The main objective of Directive 2000/13/EC (1), which constitutes the general
labelling, is to provide consumers with information on the products concerned.

legislative act on food

Article 7(2)(a) of the Directive requires the quantity of an ingredient in a foodstuff to be stated where the
ingredient concerned appears in the name under which the foodstuff is sold; this quantity must be
expressed as a percentage of the total.

In the specific case referred to by the Honourable Member, labelling which clearly states that the product
contains 10 % crab would be consistent with the rules. Labelling which failed to do so would constitute an
infringement of the legislation.

The Commission understands the consumer(cid:146)s surprise that the ingredient appearing in the name of the
product accounts for only 10 % of that product.

However, the composition and designation of foodstuffs are not, in principle, regulated at Community
level, and therefore there are no harmonised specifications for crab paste.

Member States may adopt national legislation in this field, provided it does not impede the free movement
of goods in the Single Market.

(1) Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 March 2000 on the approximation of
the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs (OJ L 109,
6.5.2000).

(2001/C 163 E/188)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3569/00

by Isidoro SÆnchez Garc(cid:237)a (ELDR) to the Commission

(17 November 2000)

Subject: Guarantees regarding the freedom of movement of foreign sportsmen and women in transfer

procedures

Are the Commissioners for sport, employment and competition aware of the contractual terms applicable
to foreign sportsmen and women as laid down in the regulations of certain sports federations in some
Member States and in the rules and regulations of European leagues and international federations, under
which, in order for the said sportsmen and women to obtain authorisation to pursue their profession, a
transfer document from the national federation to which they belonged in the previous season confirming
its acceptance of the transfer must be presented to the federation in the Member State before the new
season starts?

If so, and bearing in mind that such transfer terms are presumably in breach of Community legislation,
what measures are being envisaged to guarantee the freedom of movement of foreign sportsmen and
women in transfer procedures?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(12 January 2001)

The Commission considers that the requirement of a transfer certificate does not appear, in itself, to be
incompatible with Community law. Nevertheless, the conditions for granting such a certificate, as well as
the consequences of one being refused, could constitute obstacles to the free movement of sports
professionals.

The Commission makes sure that Community rules on competition and the free movement of workers
within the Community are fully respected.

The Commission is currently examining the new framework which the International Federation of
Association Football (FIFA) is drafting in response to the statement of objections which the Commission
forwarded to it in 1998. The methods for transferring professional footballers within the Community are
included in this framework.