WRITTEN QUESTION E-0078/01 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. 'Purchase for destruction' of cattle aged over 30 months to prevent possible consumption of BSE-infected meat and the implementation of this rule in Galicia.
Date: 2001-01-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, application of EU law, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, cattle, purchase, slaughter of animals, veterinary inspection, waste disposal, withdrawal from the market

3.7.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 187 E/175

In addition, under the 3rd Multiannual Programme in favour of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
(1997-2000) (1) the Commission launched a pilot action that supported both feasibility studies and the
establishment or the development of a small number of MGSs (including in Ireland and the United
Kingdom).

Under the Growth and Employment Initiative (1998-2000) and the new Multiannual programme for
enterprises and entrepreneurship,
in particular for SMEs (2001-2005) adopted by the Council on
20 December 2000, Community funds aimed at strengthening loan guarantee schemes and MGSs will be
made available and managed by the European Investment Fund (EIF).

The 3rd European Round table of Bankers and SMEs also mentioned in its final report the important role
of MGS and highlighted some of the best practices in Europe (2).

(1) COM(1999) 319 final.
(2)

see: http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/entrepreneurship/financing/round_table.htm#3roundtable.

(2001/C 187 E/186)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0078/01

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(29 January 2001)

Subject:

(cid:146)Purchase for destruction(cid:146) of cattle aged over 30 months to prevent possible consumption of BSE-
infected meat and the implementation of this rule in Galicia

What is the general scope of the rule concerning the (cid:145)purchase for destruction(cid:146) of cattle aged over 30
months adopted by the Agriculture Council at its meting of 4 December 2000 with a view to preventing
possible consumption of meat from cattle infected by BSE ((cid:146)mad cow disease(cid:146))? When will this rule be
implemented in the EU, and how? How will it be applied in Galicia? How many cattle will be affected, and
what technical and budgetary resources will be used?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(20 March 2001)

A purchase for destruction scheme as laid down in Regulation (EC) No 2777/2000 of 18 December 2000
adopting exceptional support measures for the beef market (1) was adopted by the Commission and entred
into force on 1 January 2001. This is an exceptional market support measure intended to withdraw beef
from the market until 30 June 2001, when testing for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) of all
slaughtered animals above 30 months (OTM animals) becomes obligatory.

In the meantime, under that Regulation, only OTM animals having tested negative for BSE can be sold for
human consumption while animals which have not been tested should be purchased by Member States
with the view to removing them permanently from the market through a destruction process.

Although the Regulation concerned is applicable in all Member States some of its provisions permit,
nevertheless, certain derogations. Consequently, Denmark, the Netherlands, Austria, Finland and Sweden
are not actively participating in the scheme whereas Germany and Luxembourg are buying OTM animals
despite full testing capacity for all their OTM animals presented for slaughter.

Spain is participating fully in the application of the Regulation but internal problems of technical capacity,
staff training, logistics, etc. have delayed the physical start of the operations.

C 187 E/176

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.7.2001

No upper limit has been fixed with regard to the number of animals which could be covered by the
scheme. However, under the agricultural budget € 700 million has been earmarked for Community co-
financing of such purchases (70 % of the purchase price).

from this co-financing provision, Member States are responsible for providing the necessary

Apart
financing and technical capacity to assure the proper functioning of the scheme.

(1) OJ L 321, 19.12.2000.

(2001/C 187 E/187)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0082/01

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(29 January 2001)

Subject: Compulsory BSE testing on cattle aged over 30 months killed in Galician slaughterhouses

What is the state of affairs in Galicia since the beginning of 2001 concerning the implementation of the
above compulsory testing?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(20 March 2001)

Following new developments in the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) epidemic in the Community
at the end of 2000, systematic testing of all bovine animals over 30 months of age entering the food chain
was introduced as of 1 January 2001 to further reinforce the protection of consumers against BSE.

In the beginning of this year, Member States were asked to send a report to the Commission on the status
of implementation of the new BSE related Community measures. Spain confirmed that the requirement to
test all bovine animals over 30 months of age slaughtered for human consumption had been implemented.

The Commission plans to make an inspection to verify the implementation as a part of a new series of
inspections starting in March 2001.

(2001/C 187 E/188)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0085/01

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(1 February 2001)

Subject: Frequent deaths off the shores of southern Spain arising from the conditions in which young

African men and women are obliged to emigrate

Young Africans wishing to enter the EU, and, specifically, the Spanish state, in search of employment and
a better life, as denied to them in their own countries (in many cases run by corrupt leaders protected by
European countries), are continuing to be arrested at a rate of several hundred a week. Many are dying
owing to the appalling conditions in which they are obliged to cross the Strait of Gibraltar and to the
hostile attitude of the Spanish authorities to immigration, as expressed, notably, in the recently adopted
Law on Foreigners, with attitudes at times openly verging on xenophobia. A few years ago many of us
angrily criticised the attitude of the US authorities, holding them responsible for the deaths of the Latin
American (cid:145)wetbacks(cid:146) trying to cross the Rio Grande; today, however, we are horrified to find ourselves
faced with a similar (cid:129) or even worse (cid:129) phenomenon happening off the Spanish coastline between Europe
and Africa, while the European authorities take no effective steps to prevent it. Even on 5 January 2000,
two small boats, known to be carrying 48 and 16 persons respectively on board, were known to be adrift
somewhere between Morocco and Andalusia in highly dangerous circumstances. What political measures