WRITTEN QUESTION P-0545/01 by Mario Mastella (PPE-DE) to the Commission. European ban on the consumption and export of Italian bistecca alla fiorentina.
Date: 2001-02-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Italy, beef, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, derogation from EU law, food safety, health control, health risk, veterinary legislation

C 235 E/224

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.8.2001

The Commission(cid:146)s current strategy with regard to the improvement of the operation of the tax is set out in
its communication to the Parliament and Council (2). The principle objectives here are simplification,
modernisation, a more consistent application and better administrative co-operation. Any extension to the
existing arrangements with regard to exemption is unlikely to be consistent with these aims. Exemptions
encourage distortions to competition, increase the compliance costs for businesses and introduce (cid:145)hidden
tax(cid:146) into the supply chain, due to the non-deductibility of related tax on purchases.

However, relief in the form of reduced VAT rates is currently available for a trial three-year period in
respect of certain labour intensive activities (3). Under this provision, Italy was authorised to apply a reduced
VAT rate to services such as (cid:145)renovation and repairing of private dwellings(cid:146) and (cid:145)domestic care services(cid:146).
This is a very limited experimental exercise to see whether providers of these services can benefit from
a reduced rate without risk to the proper operation of the internal market and tax neutrality. Nevertheless,
a final decision on the VAT rate applicable to labour intensive services will not be taken before the
Commission has reported fully on the impact of the exercise at the end of its trial period in December
2002.

(1) OJ L 145, 13.6.1977.
(2) COM(2000) 348 final.
(3) Council Decision 2000/185/EC, 28 February 2000 (OJ L 59, 4.3.2000).

(2001/C 235 E/262)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0545/01

by Mario Mastella (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 February 2001)

Subject: European ban on the consumption and export of Italian (cid:145)bistecca alla fiorentina(cid:146)

in response to the proposals
On 7 February 2001, the Standing Veterinary Committee in Brussels,
published on the same day by the Commission concerning the removal of the vertebral column from all
cattle over 12 months old, decided to ban Italian (cid:145)fiorentina(cid:146) (T-bone) steaks. Member States that can prove
they have taken effective control measures will be exempted from the requirement to remove and destroy
the vertebral column of animals over 12 month old. Furthermore, Sweden, Finland and Austria will be
exempt from the requirement on the grounds that they have not registered any native cases of BSE to date
and are regarded as countries where the disease is unlikely to be present. But the exemption is also being
extended to the United Kingdom, the country in which the first cases of the disease were recorded and
which also has the highest number of confirmed cases of BSE and vCJD (the variant that affects human
beings), as the ban on allowing any animal over 30 months old to enter the food chain is supposedly
sufficient to ensure that the number of animals that could be infected is small and constantly decreasing.
The exemption will not, however, make it possible to export bone-in beef from that country. The
exemption will also apply to Portugal by virtue of the national measures in force to eradicate BSE, and
in particular the ban on meat and bone meal that has been in place since July 1999. But the exemption
will apply only to animals born after that date and under 30 months old.

In view of the foregoing,

(cid:129) Would the Commission clarify the points referred to above and establish whether or not the decisions
taken by the Veterinary Committee were discriminatory,
in order to protect both the interests of
Italian operators in the sector, which have already been seriously damaged, and the right of consumers
to be provided with accurate information, and also state the sanitary or public health grounds on the
basis of which the decision in question was taken?

(cid:129) Does the Commission not consider that it would be appropriate to take action, possibly by means of
new and further decisions which would officially sanction and safeguard the characteristic features of
the traditional products of each Member State of the European Union, with particular reference to
Italy in the case in question, instead of penalising such products?

21.8.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 235 E/225

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(23 April 2001)

It is the policy of the Commission that measures relating to public health should be science based. The
Scientific Steering Committee, in its opinion of 12 January 2001 on the safety with regard to bovine
spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) of certain bovine tissues and certain animal-derived products, indicated
its view that the vertebral column of bovines over 12 months should be regarded as specified risk material
(SRM). Furthermore it indicated that in assessing the risk to human health posed by the bovine vertebral
column, account should be taken of the likelihood of animals being infected and it made particular
reference to the existence of an effective feed ban. Following this opinion and the conclusion of the
Agriculture Council of 29 January 2001, the Commission brought forward a proposal (1) to the Standing
Veterinary Committee of 7 February 2001 adding vertebral column to the list of SRMs, but taking account
of the effective feed bans in the United Kingdom and Portugal and the low geographical BSE risk status of
Austria, Finland and Sweden.

It is the view of the Commission that the protection of public health must take precedence over the
protection of traditional products. Also, it should be noted that the Decision (1) contains a provision that
allows any Member State to apply for a derogation from the rules regarding removal of vertebral column if
they can demonstrate compliance with certain criteria.

(1)

JO L 84, 23.3.2001.

(2001/C 235 E/263)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0547/01

by Wilhelm Piecyk (PSE) to the Commission

(27 February 2001)

Subject: Dues payable by pleasure and recreational craft on entry into Greek waters

In answer to Written Question E-1062/00 (1) by Mr von Wogau, the Commission indicated on 6 June
2000 that it would examine in greater detail the questionable legality under Community rules of dues on
entry.

The Commission undertook to contact the Greek authorities and any other bodies necessary to clear up
the situation and obtain all relevant further information and, if necessary, to proceed under Article 226.

In view of this:

1. What additional information has the Commission obtained to date?

2. What conclusions has the Commission arrived at in the light of information obtained concerning the

legality under Community rules of dues on entry?

3. What are the Commission(cid:146)s reasons for its conclusions? Has it already initiated proceedings under

Article 226 or does it intend to do so in the foreseeable future?

(1) OJ C 26 E, 26.1.2001, p. 150.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(19 April 2001)

On 12 September 2000, the Commission sent Greece a letter of formal notice concerning the traffic
charges referred to by the Honourable Member. The Greek authorities(cid:146) reply on 20 November 2000 was
unsatisfactory. Greece does not intend to abolish the charges; its arguments to the effect that they comply
with Community legal requirements are unconvincing.