WRITTEN QUESTION E-3737/00 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission. Television licences.
Date: 2000-11-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, physically disabled person, quasi-fiscal charge, tax relief

C 318 E/8

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.11.2001

Amongst the brands of cigarettes produced in the Member States, the highest number of cigarettes seized
in 1999 was, by order of importance, Regal, Superkings, West and Benson & Hedges. Amongst the brands
of cigarettes produced outside the European Community, the highest number of cigarettes seized, also in
1999, was Marlboro.

Finally, the Commission would underline the fact that Antwerp is one of the biggest ports handling
consignments of cigarettes in the world.

In view of the size of the figures produced to answer more specific questions linked to cigarettes exports,
the Commission is sending them direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat. These
figures obtained through databases may not be exhaustive and should not be interpreted as binding on the
Commission.

(2001/C 318 E/009)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3737/00

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(30 November 2000)

Subject: Television licences

1. Will the Commission state whether a licence, fee or tax is levied for the use of television in each
Member State, and also state what the current rate of such a levy is in each Member State, in both national
currency and in euro?

2.

Are there any exemptions in Member States for blind people?

Supplementary answer
given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(21 February 2001)

In the year 2000, the following amounts were due yearly in the Member States by individuals

1.
owning colour television sets in their households:

Member States

National currency

A

B

D

DK

EL

E

FIN

F

IRL

I

L

P

NL

S

UK

2 900

7 656

339

1 894

(2)

(2)

982

751

70

176 000

(2)

(2)

(2)

1 644

104

(1) Average 2000 €/DKK = 7,453825.
(2) No amount due.
(3) Average 2000 €/SEK = 8,44634.
(4) Average 2000 €/GPB = 0,609542.

€

211

190

173

(1) 254

(2)

(2)

165

114

89

91

(2)

(2)

(2)

(3) 195

(4) 170

13.11.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 318 E/9

2.

In the year 2000 the following exceptions were applied for blind people:

(cid:129) Austria: total exoneration upon request;

(cid:129) Belgium: total exoneration upon request;

(cid:129) Denmark: reduction to DKK 280;

(cid:129) United Kingdom: reduction to GBP 52 for registered persons.

(2001/C 318 E/010)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3779/00

by Roberto Bigliardo (TDI) to the Commission

(4 December 2000)

Subject: Administration of massive doses of antibiotics to calves to speed up fattening

Is the Commission aware that numerous press articles have for some time been condemning the use of
massive doses of antibiotics and other unspecified drugs to fatten calves more quickly? In March 1999 the
Brussels-based committee of consumer associations, which acts as an advisory body to the Commission,
spoke out against the use of antibiotics as growth promoters for farm animals. The statement was based
on the 1997 World Health Organisation recommendations and those of doctors in 30 countries which
urged the Union to set up a monitoring system to deal with bacteria that were resistant to antibiotics.
According to world experts in the field, the use of antibiotics almost inevitably increases resistance in
bacteria.
In view of this very serious threat to the health of European citizens, what steps has the
Commission taken or will it take to prohibit the inappropriate use of these drugs? If steps have been taken,
which countries have opposed them?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(11 June 2001)

The Commission shares the concerns of the Honourable Member on the need to reduce the risk for human
health derived from antimicrobial resistance. However, as highlighted by the scientific community and by
the Report on antimicrobial resistance adopted by the Scientific Steering Committee in June 1999, the
problem of antibiotic resistance requires a comprehensive control strategy, not limited to a specific sector
such as animal production.

The Commission is aware of press articles concerning use of antibiotics and other substances to speed up
the fattening of farmed animals. The use of antibiotics having growth promoting effects is regulated by
Council Directive 70/524/EEC of 23 November 1970 on additives in feeding stuffs (1). There are still four
antibiotics authorised under this Directive. The Commission is committed to pursue the recommendation
of the Scientific Steering Committee and in particular to phase out the use of agents from classes which
are or may be used in human or veterinary medicine and to make all efforts to replace the antibiotics by
non-antimicrobial alternatives.

In the reports provided by the Member States on control activities carried out in 1999 on animal nutrition,
there is no evidence of major infringements to Community legislation concerning such products. In
addition, the Commission took the initiative to ask the Member States for information specifically on the
implementation of recent bans on the use of antibiotics in animal nutrition. In the replies so far received,
there are no elements to confirm a massive and illegal use of antibiotics.

Concerning the control on other uses of antibiotics in animals such as therapeutic or prophylactic
applications,
information is also requested under Council Directive 96/23/EC of 29 April 1996 on
measures to monitor certain substances and residues thereof in live animals and animal products and
repealing Directives 85/358/EEC and 86/469/EEC and Decisions 89/187/EEC and 91/664/EEC (2). This
Directive imposes the sampling for the detection of residues in accordance with a programme established