WRITTEN QUESTION E-3570/00 by Gorka Knörr Borràs (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Bio, organically grown and organic descriptions.
Date: 2000-11-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Spain, infringement of EU law, organic farming, quality label

11.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 350 E/3

Lastly three projects were approved under the RETEX Community Initiative (for diversification in regions
heavily dependent on the textile and clothing sector) during the 1994-1999 programming period:

(cid:129) a technological modernisation project for the company (included in subprogramme A (cid:145)Access to

capital(cid:146)); the ERDF contribution was PTE 25 000 000 (€ 125 000);

(cid:129) a strategy formulation study (ERDF contribution PTE 3 400 000/€ 17 000) and a project to identify the
company(cid:146)s strong and weak points the ERDF contribution to which of € 6 500 has not been paid since
the project is being cancelled. Both these projects fell under subprogramme C (cid:145)Productivity and
technical assistance(cid:146).

As with all projects aided from the Structural Funds these aids were examined in line with the Fund
regulations. Since job creation was not an immediate purpose of any of the projects the job protection
aspect was not specifically checked on.

(2001/C 350 E/003)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3570/00

by Gorka Kn(cid:246)rr Borr(cid:224)s (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(17 November 2000)

Subject:

(cid:145)Bio(cid:146), (cid:145)organically grown(cid:146) and (cid:145)organic(cid:146) descriptions

Council Regulation (EC) No 1804/1999 (1) supplementing Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 (2), provides
safeguards with regard to the use of the descriptions (cid:145)bio(cid:146) and (cid:145)eco(cid:146) for food produced using organic
farming methods.

Is the Commission aware that the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is drawing up a Royal
Decree which establishes a separate category for the (cid:145)bio(cid:146),
(cid:145)organically grown(cid:146) and (cid:145)organic(cid:146) descriptions
given to products governed by organic farming regulations?

What view does the Commission take of this decision?

(1) OJ L 222, 24.8.1999, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 198, 22.7.1991, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(22 January 2001)

The Commission was first informed in 1999 that the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture was preparing
a Decree cancelling restriction of the term bio to products and foodstuffs marketed in Spain that have been
obtained organically. It was recently informed that the Decree has not been adopted but preparation
continues.

In October 1999 the Commission made known to the Ministry its position that a national provision
permitting use of the prefix bio on the labelling of a product not obtained in line with Council Regulation
(EEC) No 2092/91 of 24 June 1991 on organic production of agricultural products and indications
referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs would break Community law.

The Commission is again looking at the situation and if necessary will not hesitate to initiate proceedings
under Article 226 (formerly 169) of the EC Treaty.