WRITTEN QUESTION E-0776/01 by Luigi Vinci (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Use of animal meal as feed in fish farming.
Date: 2001-03-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: animal nutrition, fish, health legislation, livestock farming

4.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 340 E/91

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(1 June 2001)

The Commission is closely monitoring economic developments in Turkey. It expects that a strong and
credible economic programme will be finalised in the near future in close co-operation with the
International Monetary Fund (IMF). The success of the programme hinges on its rigorous implementation
in combination with support from the international community and the private sector. The reform
measures, which have been announced should,
further accelerate the
implementation of the economic reform priorities set out in the Accession Partnership (1).

if properly implemented,

As the Member of the Commission responsible for Enlargement
indicated on 26 March 2001, the
Commission welcomes the adoption on 19 March 2001 of the National Programme for the Adoption of
the Acquis (NPAA) by the Turkish Government. This document is an important landmark in Turkey(cid:146)s
preparation for Union membership and the first stage in a far-reaching programme of political reform. It is
Turkey(cid:146)s interpretation of the Union(cid:146)s Accession Partnership. With regard to the political criteria for Union
membership, a first analysis suggests that further efforts will be required in areas such as ensuring cultural
rights for all citizens irrespective of their origin as mentioned by the Honourable Member.

(1) OJ L 85, 24.3.2001.

(2001/C 340 E/105)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0776/01

by Luigi Vinci (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(13 March 2001)

Subject: Use of animal meal as feed in fish farming

In view of the growing risk of the spread of BSE and the implications for human health:

1. Will the Commission say whether there are any EU regulations on the use of animal by-products as

feed in fish farming?

2.

Is it aware of health problems involving fish farms where animal meal has been used as feed?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(11 June 2001)

In addressing the questions posed by the Honourable Member it is necessary to highlight that most of the
fish species farmed for food production are in their natural environment carnivorous species. When
farmed, they need to be fed mainly with feedingstuffs composed of large amounts of products of animal
origin and mainly of fish meal and fish oil.

The legal basis for the use of products of animal origin in animal nutrition, including farmed fish, is
1.
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 (1). Council Decision 2000/766/EC of
4 December 2000 concerning certain protection measures with regard to transmissible spongiform
encephalopathies and the feeding of animal protein (2), as last amended by Commission Decision 2001/
165/EC of 27 February 2001 (3), further restricts the use in animal nutrition of products of animal origin.

Certain fish diseases may be transmitted to farmed fish fed with raw fish or unprocessed fish waste.

2.
For this reason it is current practice to avoid such feeding.

C 340 E/92

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.12.2001

The Commission is monitoring closely any new scientific development in relation to possible trans-
missibility of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) agents to other farmed animals including
fish. In this context, the Commission has not been informed of particular health problems affecting farmed
fish fed with meals of animal origin. However, the Commission is currently supporting a project in the
framework of the TSE Action Plan for research which looks into the potential transmission of bovine
spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and scrapie to fish. Preliminary results are expected soon and they will
be evaluated accordingly.

(1) OJ L 363, 27.12.1990.
(2) OJ L 306, 7.12.2000.
(3) OJ L 58, 28.2.2001.

(2001/C 340 E/106)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0778/01

by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Council

(15 March 2001)

Subject: Recent statements by the Belgian foreign minister

The Council:

1. Will it condemn the bizarre statements made by the colourful Belgian foreign minister, Louis Michel,
concerning possible sanctions against Italy in the event of the Casa delle Libert(cid:224) party winning the
forthcoming elections there?

2. Will it ask the Belgian minister to refrain from attending Community meetings?

Reply

(13 July 2001)

It is not for the Council to comment on statements such as those referred to in the Honourable Member(cid:146)s
question.

(2001/C 340 E/107)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0780/01

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(15 March 2001)

Subject: Government coalitions with extreme right-wing parties

If Silvio Berlusconi, chairman of Forza Italia and a member of the EPP group in the European Parliament,
is elected prime minister of Italy, this will show whether the European Union is consistent in its attitude
towards Member States. The EU is at risk of applying double standards and it is beginning to look as if
there is one set of rules for the large Member States and another set for the small Member States. The next
few months will show whether this is so.

Forza Italia can only come to power with two coalition partners which both have much in common with
the Austrian FP(cid:214) of J(cid:246)rg Haider. His leading ally, and probable deputy prime minister, Gianfranco Fini of
the Alleanza Nazionale, has built his party on the ruins of the old Fascist movement. Although the
Alleanza Nazionale has been at pains to distance itself from its extremist origins, the party still cherishes
the legacy of the Mussolini era. The similarity with Haider(cid:146)s Nazi sympathies is striking.