WRITTEN QUESTION E-0098/01 by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission. BSE: incinerators.
Date: 2001-01-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Spain, application of EU law, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, carcase, veterinary legislation, waste disposal

C 187 E/182

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.7.2001

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(14 March 2001)

The Scientific Steering Committee has recently advised the Commission (1) that there is no conclusive
scientific evidence for the transmission of variant Cruntzfeld-Jacob disease (vCJD) by blood. However, the
Commission is well aware that a theoretical potential for such transmission does exist, and the relevant
Scientific Committees continuously monitor scientific evidence on the subject as it arises.

Based on the Committee(cid:146)s findings, the Commission will propose preventive measures as necessary, taking
into account also that the Scientific Committee on Medicinal Products and Medical Devices (SCMPMD) (2)
recommends a careful consideration of whether the exclusion of donors who stayed for a defined period of
time in areas with increased risk of exposure to the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) agent would
provide an increase in safety balanced against its negative impact on supply and donor population.

According to the SCMPMD, the adverse effects of any exclusion criterion on the donor population is not
only the possibility of a shortage in supply. Excluded donors have to be replaced by new donors, most
probably by first time donors. This replacement creates an additional risk as the prevalence of blood borne
infectious diseases in first time donors is significantly higher than in repetitive donors. Any new exclusion
measure, therefore, has to be balanced against the calculable risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV),
hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmissions in donations from first time donors.

(1) Opinion of the Scientific Steering Committee of 26/27 October 2000 on the Houston et al paper in the Lancet of

16 September 2000 on the transmission of BSE by blood transfusion in sheep.

(2) Update of the Opinion given by the Scientific Committee on Medicinal Products and Medical Devices on The Risk

Quantification For CJD Transmission Via Substances of Human Origin of 16 February 2000.

(2001/C 187 E/195)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0098/01

by Rosa MiguØlez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(29 January 2001)

Subject: BSE: incinerators

As a result of the measures adopted by the European Union in response to the emergence of further (cid:129) and
in some instances the first (cid:129) cases of BSE in various European countries, the authorities find themselves
faced with the need to take drastic measures to tackle this serious problem, with a view to protecting
consumer health and containing the spread of the epidemic.

Of the measures adopted, the one which is apparently proving most problematic (cid:129) especially in those
Member States where the first cases of BSE have surfaced (cid:129) concerns the transportation and subsequent
destruction of risk material.

Incinerators have been unable to cope with the large number of cattle earmarked for slaughter in keeping
with recent decisions by the Council of Ministers. Moreover, there would appear to be no easy means of
transporting animals for slaughter.

In view of the justifiable public alarm that this issue has generated amongst consumers and cattle farmers
(cid:129) who in many instances are not only losing their cattle but are also having to bear the cost of the
transportation and subsequent slaughter thereof (cid:129) what procedures does the Commission intend to
introduce to enable compliance with European rules on the mandatory requirement that SRM which is
to be disposed of is properly incinerated and transported?

3.7.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 187 E/183

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(13 March 2001)

According to Commission Decision 2000/418/EC of 29 June 2000 regulating the use of material
presenting risks as regards transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (BSE) and amending Decision 94/
474/EC (1), specified risk material (SRM) shall be completely destroyed by:

(cid:129) incineration with or without pre-processing,

(cid:129) co-incineration with pre-processing,

(cid:129) burial in an approved landfill site after pre-processing of at least 133(cid:176) C for 20 minutes at 3 bars of

pressure.

Point 4 of Annex I to this Decision establishes that Member States may allow the burial of SRM in the
circumstances set out in Article 3(2) of Council Directive 90/667/EEC of 27 November 1990 laying down
the veterinary rules for the disposal and processing of animal waste, for its placing on the market and for
the prevention of pathogens in feedstuffs of animal or fish origin and amending Directive 90/425/EEC (2)
and by a method which precludes all risk of transmission of a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy
(TSE) and is authorised and supervised by the competent authority.

Commission experts carry out regular on-the-spot checks in all Member States to verify the correct
implementation of Community legislation on BSE and related matters, including the above mentioned
legislation on SRM.

In cases where, after establishing the facts, it appears to the Commission that a Member State is not
fulfilling its obligations, the Commission is prepared to take all necessary action within its power to ensure
that Community law is respected.
In appropriate cases this action would include the opening of
infringement proceedings under Article 226 (ex Article 169) of the EC Treaty.

(1) OJ L 158, 30.6.2000. Decision last amended by Commission Decision 2001/2/EC of 27 December 2000 (OJ L 1,

4.1.2001).

(2) OJ L 363, 27.12.1990.

(2001/C 187 E/196)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0100/01

by Rosa MiguØlez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Impact of storms in Galicia on fisheries and shellfishing

(29 January 2001)

The economy of regions such as Galicia in Spain, as well as regions of Portugal and France on the Atlantic
seaboard, have been and continue to be badly hit by the severe storms which have been wreaking havoc
on Europe(cid:146)s Atlantic coast since last October. The production systems of these regions, which are highly
dependent on the primary sector (i.e. agriculture and fisheries), are feeling the effects of these adverse
weather conditions.

The loss to shellfishing in Galicia caused by the decimation of stocks of bivalves resulting from the fall in
water salinity is estimated at ESP 7 billion. Some species have been completely wiped out, and young
shellfish have also been affected. Consequently, not only this year(cid:146)s harvest, but the basis for next year(cid:146)s as
well, have been completely lost.

The storms have inflicted unprecedented losses on agriculture and fisheries. Farmers have requested a range
of support measures from the competent authorities, including soft loans and direct aid to compensate for
lost income.