WRITTEN QUESTION E-0871/01 by Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN), Sergio Berlato (UEN), Cristiana Muscardini (UEN), Francesco Turchi (UEN), Roberta Angelilli (UEN), Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN), José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN), Mauro Nobilia (UEN), Niall Andrews (UEN) and William Abitbol (EDD) to the Commission. Bringing forward revision of CAP for oil seed sector.
Date: 2001-03-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: oleaginous plant, reform of the CAP, supply, vegetable protein

C 318 E/140

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.11.2001

In the light of the information provided in the present question, the Commission is unable to identify any
infringement of Council Directive 90/313/EEC of 7 June 1990 on the freedom of access to information on
the environment (4).

Under the circumstances and given the information available, the Commission is unable to continue its
examination of the situation in the absence of any evidence of an infringement.

However, the Commission does not exclude the possibility of further investigating the problem raised by
the Honourable Member should she be able to provide evidence of a breach of Community law.

(1) OJ C 341, 29.11.1999.
(2) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.
(3) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.
(4) OJ L 158, 23.6.1990.

(2001/C 318 E/149)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0871/01

by Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN), Sergio Berlato (UEN),
Cristiana Muscardini (UEN), Francesco Turchi (UEN), Roberta Angelilli (UEN),
Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN), JosØ Ribeiro e Castro (UEN), Mauro Nobilia (UEN),
Niall Andrews (UEN) and William Abitbol (EDD) to the Commission

Subject: Bringing forward revision of CAP for oil seed sector

(22 March 2001)

The increase in the demand for vegetable proteins (and the consequent steep rise in prices) caused by the
ban on the use of animal proteins in animal feed suggests that the specific characteristics of the oil seed
sector should be re-examined.

Does the Commission not consider, therefore, that the EU should become more self-sufficient in the supply
of proteins, in view of the need to ensure that products are free of GMOs (genetically modified organisms),
so as not to give consumers any further grounds for concern?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(16 May 2001)

In response to the Council(cid:146)s request at its special meeting on 4 December 2000, the Commission has
carried out an analysis of supply and demand for protein-rich plants (1).

One of the conclusions of the analysis is that replacing protein from meat-and-bone meal with plant
protein poses no major problems.

The availability of soya cake, the best source of replacement protein, at reasonable prices means that the
shortfall can easily be made up with additional imports of products complying with Community law in
force, including the provisions on genetically modified organisms.

With the adoption of Directive 2001/18/EC (2), which replaces Council Directive 90/220/EEC of 23 April
1990 on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms (3), the Community
food and environmental safety and the possibility of
has legislation providing both a guarantee of
marketing products utilising GMOs, subject in particular to conditions covering labelling, traceability, risk
management and monitoring.

Within the limits of what consumers are willing to pay, Community producers of non-GMO products will
also be able to benefit from special prices that stimulate the market for such niche products.

(1) COM(2001) 148 final.
(2) OJ L 106, 17.4.2001.
(3) OJ L 117, 8.5.1990.