WRITTEN QUESTION P-3745/00 by Liam Hyland (UEN) to the Commission. Dutch plan to construct a six-storey building for animals, fish and crops.
Date: 2000-11-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European standard, Netherlands, animal health, animal welfare, environmental impact, fish, health risk, intensive livestock farming, poultry, swine

6.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 163 E/207

The forthcoming white paper, due early in 2001, will address the issue of the impact of transport in
4.
some detail, and outline the measures necessary to reduce this impact effectively. Redressing modal shift
(from road freight to rail, from urban car use to public transport) and reflecting more accurately transport
costs of journeys, are two clear means of reducing unnecessary transport journeys or journeys with social
costs exceeding the private benefits, whilst allowing socially beneficial transport to grow.

The Commission is working to develop measures for application at the level of the Community. In those
instances where the Community has competence, specific proposals will be made. For some measures,
such as regional or urban transport, national or regional transport plans are more appropriate.

The Commission is open to specific suggestions regarding appropriate Community studies and research in
this area to discover further policies the Commission could propose to reduce the cost and negative impact
of transport on society.

(2001/C 163 E/241)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3745/00

by Liam Hyland (UEN) to the Commission

(29 November 2000)

Subject: Dutch plan to construct a six-storey building for animals, fish and crops

Is the Commission aware of plans by the Dutch to construct a six-storey building (Agropark) for high-rise
farming of pigs, chicken, salmon and crops which is meeting resistance from farmers on the grounds that
holding 300 000 pigs in the same building could lead to a high risk of spreading disease and that, in
addition, the plan to house 1 million chickens in the same building could lead to further health risks and
does the Commission have any views on this proposal?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(9 January 2001)

The Commission is aware of the project mentioned by the Honourable Member.

However the Commission has not received detailed information to suggest that such a plan is not in
compliance with the relevant Community legislation in particular regarding the field of environment,
animal health and animal welfare.

It should be mentioned that day to day enforcement of Community law is the responsibility of the Member
States. Therefore Dutch authorities are primarily in charge of ensuring that such a project complies with
Community rules.

(2001/C 163 E/242)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3748/00

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 December 2000)

Subject: Serious deficiencies in hygiene conditions relating to farmed poultry in Greece (to be clarified)

The investigation carried out in Greece by the EU Food and Veterinary Office between 28 February and
10 March 2000 revealed serious deficiencies in hygiene conditions relating to farmed poultry in Greece.