WRITTEN QUESTION E-4155/00 by Brigitte Langenhagen (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Marketing of smelt, implementation of EU hygiene regulation.
Date: 2001-01-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Germany, health legislation, marketing, sea fish

3.7.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 187 E/149

The EU is currently strengthening relations with the countries of the Gulf. How is the Council using this
opportunity to work for the protection of human rights in Saudi Arabia? Is it encouraging the training of
law enforcement officers providing for the protection of women under interrogation and in detention, as
well as for women reporting abuses, in accordance with international human rights standards?

What pressure is the Council exerting on Saudi Arabia to ensure that its draft law on female labour will
comply with ILO Conventions 100 and 111 which they have ratified?

Reply

(24 April 2001)

for example at

The European Union raises the issue of human rights, including the rights of women, at all appropriate
occasions to do so,
the 10th Joint Council and Ministerial meeting with the Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC) on 22 May 2000 and at an EU Troika meeting at Ministerial level with the
GCC in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly. Saudi Arabia had the Presidency in the GCC
during the year 2000. At the meeting on 22 May 2000, the European Union proposed the establishment
of a human rights dialogue. The EU will, in the framework of the EC-GCC Cooperation Agreement (1) and
the political dialogue, continue to press on the members of the GCC the need to improve the human rights
situation in their countries and to cooperate with the UN and international human rights organisations. It
will also pursue the question of an enhanced dialogue on human rights.

The EU and the GCC are currently negotiating a Free Trade Agreement. In accordance with the EU(cid:146)s policy
on human rights in its agreements with third countries, respect for human rights would constitute an
essential element in any such agreement.

(1) OJ L 54, 25.2.1989, p. 1.

(2001/C 187 E/159)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4155/00

by Brigitte Langenhagen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 January 2001)

Subject: Marketing of smelt, implementation of EU hygiene regulation

Under the EU hygiene regulation, smelt more than 15 cm in length may only be sold gutted. This has
caused sales of this small relative of salmon to come to a virtual standstill, as prices for gutted smelt are so
high because of the labour costs involved that the product is virtually unsaleable on the market.

Is the Commission aware that smelt is a national dish on the coast and that basically everyone

1.
therefore knows that the fish have to be gutted and salted before being eaten?

2.
Is the Commission aware of the fact that in German ports, as a result of the strict interpretation of
the provisions, smelt have become virtually unsaleable and the livelihoods of specialised fishermen are
consequently threatened?

Is the Commission aware of the fact that the regulation is being implemented less strictly in other

3.
European ports? What is its view of the resulting distortion of competition?

Are there proposals to preserve the livelihoods of the fishing businesses and downstream distribution

4.
chains affected?

Are there proposals to compensate the fishing businesses and downstream distribution chains

5.
affected?

C 187 E/150

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.7.2001

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(28 February 2001)

The main provision concerning gutting of fish in Community legislation is contained in Council Directive
91/493/EEC (1). Article 3.2 of this Directive requires (cid:145)Where gutting is possible from a technical and
commercial viewpoint, it must be carried out as quickly as possible after the products have been caught or
landed(cid:146).

The requirements referred to by the Honourable Member are not contained in Community legislation.

(1) Council Directive 91/493/EEC of 22 July 1991 laying down the health conditions for the production and the

placing on the market of fishery products (OJ L 268, 24.9.1991).

(2001/C 187 E/160)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4160/00

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(16 January 2001)

Subject: Cotton quotas

On 11 December 2000 the Greek Ministry of Agriculture announced that it was imposing individual
quotas in respect of both the area which each producer is entitled to cultivate and the volume of
production eligible for aid in 2001. Each producer will be entitled to cultivate an area 5 % smaller than the
average over the previous five years and receive aid for a quantity of cotton 5 % less than average of his
three best harvests over the previous five years.

The Commission(cid:146)s answer to my Written Question E-1952/00 (1) states that existing Community legislation
makes no provision whatsoever for restrictions on the area on which cotton may be grown. The same
applies to the volume of cotton eligible for aid. Even the Commission(cid:146)s proposal adjusting the system of
aid for cotton (2) which is not definitive and will not be adopted before the middle of February 2001 makes
no provision for the implementation of generalised individual quotas for the cultivation and production of
cotton, but merely provides that measures may be taken to restrict the area under cultivation on the basis
of a number of specific criteria in certain regions.

How does the Commission intend to intervene to avert in good time the implementation of measures

1.
contrary to Community regulations governing cotton?

2.
How will it ensure the right of producers to find out in good time, i.e. at the time in which they plan
their annual crops, the legal provisions applicable to each crop so that they can take decisions and
undertake the necessary work (choice of crop, tenancy arrangements, cultivation, acquisition of seeds, use
of fertilisers, etc.)?

(1) OJ C 81 E, 13.3.2001, p. 117.
(2) COM(1999) 492 final.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(20 February 2001)

The answer to the Honourable Member(cid:146)s Question E-1952/00 about cotton areas and production volumes
eligible or not eligible for aid (1)
is hereby confirmed, namely that there is no provision in current
Community legislation imposing restrictions on the area which may be put under cotton and hence on the
corresponding cotton production volume eligible for aid.