WRITTEN QUESTION E-0823/01 by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Treatment of raw milk.
Date: 2001-03-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: consumer protection, food technology, foodstuffs legislation, raw milk

11.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 350 E/43

In the Commission(cid:146)s view, the size of the exclusive fishing zone, which is determined by the Member State,
does not constitute grounds for granting compensatory aid at Community level.

(1) OJ C 235 E, 21.8.2001, p. 129.

(2001/C 350 E/044)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0809/01

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(19 March 2001)

Subject: Thameslink 2000 project

Railtrack PLC, a London-based company, has proposed the Thameslink 2000 scheme, at present the
subject of a Transport & Works Act public inquiry, requiring the construction of a series of new steel and
concrete viaducts through the Borough Market. The project involves the total demolition of 16 buildings,
nine listed Grade II (including the whole of the Georgian Terrace designed by Sir Robert Smirke, architect
of the British Museum) and the reconfiguration of a further eight, seven of which are listed, in the heart of
the Borough Street Conservation area.

The Borough Market is the oldest municipal fruit and vegetable market still trading on its original site,
where Shakespeare acted and Dickens lived, and has recently seen a remarkable regeneration with the
establishment of Tate Modern and Shakespeare(cid:146)s Globe Theatre.
It is of such unique environmental
significance and quality that there should be a presumption against permitting the irreparable damage the
project would cause. In the light of the 1954 European Convention and the 1985 Convention for the
Protection of the Architectural Heritage of Europe, will the Commission intervene and investigate the
matter?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2001)

Article 151 (ex Article 128) of the EC Treaty gives the Community the power to encourage co-operation
between Member States in the sphere of culture. The question raised by the Honourable Member is not
is the exclusive
within the Community(cid:146)s jurisdiction; by virtue of
responsibility of the Member State.

the principle of subsidiarity,

it

Moreover, the Community is not a party to the European Cultural Convention of 19 December 1954 or to
the Convention for the Protection of the Architectural Heritage of Europe of 3 October 1985;
it is
therefore not within the Commission(cid:146)s remit to examine possible infringements.

(2001/C 350 E/045)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0823/01

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 March 2001)

Subject: Treatment of raw milk

In view of the forthcoming comprehensive overhaul of food hygiene regulations and the aim to allow
treatment of raw milk by milk producers (for example by microfiltration):

(cid:129) Is the Commission aware that this means that a parameter indicative of udder health and the general
state of health of the herd may be legally removed, and that a farmer may consequently falsely present

C 350 E/44

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.12.2001

the raw milk as being of a higher quality than is in fact the case, and purchasers of raw milk under
quality milk programmes may be deceived as to its quality?

(cid:129) In the light of these facts, will the Commission say whether it still intends in future to allow treatment
at the level of raw milk production (for example microfiltration altering the content of natural milk
components, for example the cell count)?

(2001/C 350 E/046)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0824/01

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 March 2001)

Subject: Treatment of raw milk

In view of the forthcoming comprehensive overhaul of food hygiene regulations and the aim to allow
treatment of raw milk by milk producers (for example by microfiltration), would the Commission answer
the following questions:

(cid:129) Are there reliable methods for detecting by means of analysis the use of microfilters to remove cells

from raw milk, altering the cell count?

(cid:129) At a time when so many food scandals have been occurring, is there not a risk that the sense of
uncertainty felt by consumers may be further added to if the guarantee of the purity of this raw
product is undermined by making microfiltration treatment legal?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-0823/01 and E-0824/01
given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(27 June 2001)

Microfiltration is a technological process which allows biochemical or organic milk components to be
selected according to size by using membranes with varying degrees of permeability. For optimum effect,
microfiltration usually involves a rise in temperature to above 40 (cid:176)C, which no longer complies with the
definition of raw milk. It is also difficult to carry out on the farm.

The draft text on the simplification of veterinary legislation, as mentioned by the Honourable Member,
proposes the following definition of raw milk: (cid:145)milk which has not been heated beyond 40 (cid:176)C; treatments
such as homogenisation and standardisation which have an effect on the quality of the milk may be
carried out(cid:146).

This definition does not mean that microfiltration can be used to modify lactic flora or distort the
assessment of its initial quality. Moreover, the draft regulation makes it compulsory to use guides to good
practice in primary production, which are designed to help producers manage risks at this crucial stage for
safety and quality.

It is true that there are no direct methods to reveal the use of microfiltration of milk, as there are for
pasteurisation and sterilisation. However, if a producer uses this technology, he will have to justify it when
the relevant authority carries out its checks. For example, he will have to provide data on hygiene control
on his farm, health monitoring of his herd, and the results of microbiological analyses of the milk before it
is collected. These results will have to be within the limits proposed by Community legislation, in terms of
both standards and microbiological criteria, until standards are laid down by more specific legislation on
the quality of milk and dairy products. The Commission has been informed of discussions begun in some
Member States between dairy industry representatives and producers with a view to proposing that the