WRITTEN QUESTION E-0022/01 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Fishery markets.
Date: 2001-01-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: consumer protection, fish product, fishery product, food inspection, labelling, marketing

C 235 E/92

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.8.2001

(2001/C 235 E/098)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0022/01

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 January 2001)

Subject: Fishery markets

There has been little in the way of intellectual debate at the Commission on the question of market reform,
with no attempt to examine in depth issues which are currently of crucial importance to consumers,

such as:

(cid:129) standardisation and classification of all raw materials and by-products,

(cid:129) introduction of a uniform Community-wide labelling system,

(cid:129) lack of uniform quality and health controls.

Bearing in mind the need to address the above questions, when does the Commission plan to finalise the
common organisation of the market?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(27 February 2001)

A major innovation of the reformed common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture
products (1)
improve product
traceability and thereby reduce fraud concerning the origin and nature of
the product sold. The
Commission attaches a great deal of importance to this provision and to its proper implementation.

is the new labelling requirement at the point of retail sale, which will

The relevant article of the common market organisation (Article 4) enters into force on 1 January 2002
and therefore, the Commission will be discussing the implementing regulation with the Member States in
the Management Committee for fisheries products during the course of 2001. It will also be consulting the
industry via the Advisory Committee for fisheries products. The majority of the other Commission
Regulations implementing the common organisation of the market have now been adopted.

In reply to the Honourable Member(cid:146)s specific comments on health controls for fishery products, these are
already organised through Council Directive 91/493/EEC laying down the health conditions for the
production and the placing on the market of fishery products (2). This Directive is based on the former
Article 43 (present Article 37) of the EC Treaty and aims to create a common regime with regard to
sanitary questions in fishery products, whilst ensuring a high level of consumer protection. The Directive
lays down the obligations of the fisheries sector to ensure that fishery products meet specific health
requirements and the obligations of the Member States to ensure that producers and manufacturers
comply with these requirements. The Member States(cid:146) implementation of these requirements are audited by
the Commission.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 104/2000 of 17 December 1999 (OJ L 17, 21.1.2000).
(2) OJ L 268, 24.9.1991.

(2001/C 235 E/099)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0023/01

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 January 2001)

Subject: Industrial fishing

Will the Commission assess the effects that industrial fishing of pelagic species is having on the lamentable
state of demersal species in the North Sea?