WRITTEN QUESTION E-0914/01 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) and Gianfranco Fini (UEN) to the Commission. Poultry crisis in Italy.
Date: 2001-03-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Italy, animal disease, indemnification, poultry farming, slaughter of animals, veterinary inspection

13.11.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 318 E/151

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(5 June 2001)

The Commission notes that the economic analysis on the Spanish electricity market as referred to by the
Honourable Member was carried out by the Spanish anti-trust authority ((cid:145)Tribunal de Defensa de
la Competencia(cid:146)) in the context of the merger between the two largest electricity companies in Spain,
notably Endesa and Iberdrola.

The Commission(cid:146)s own analysis of the electricity market in Europe as a whole is set out in a Commission
Communication to the Parliament and the Council on (cid:145)completing the internal energy market(cid:146) (1). In this
Communication,
the Commission outlines the encouraging progress that has been made with the
development of the electricity and gas markets in Europe.

However, the ultimate objective of a fully integrated market has not yet been achieved. This is why the
Commission has now proposed rules aiming at the creation of a real integrated single market, as opposed
to a situation characterised by fifteen more or less liberalised but largely national markets.

The Commission believes that the adoption of these proposals by The European Parliament and the
Council will address the main remaining obstacles to the creation of a truly operation internal market and
will accelerate the pace of market opening. In particular, they will have a positive impact in addressing the
fundamental problems that persist in most Member States, such as those identified by the Spanish anti-
trust authorities with regards to the Spanish market and referred to by the Honourable Member.

The Commission is aware of the allegations made by the Spanish anti-trust authority with regards to the
Spanish legal regime on the compensation of stranded costs (CTCs). The Commission is currently
examining the compatibility of
the
Commission will take into account all the key elements, such as the recent legislative amendments
introduced by the Spanish authorities as well as any other Community rules or case law that may be
relevant for the purpose of this file.

this regime with Community State aids rules.

In this analysis,

(1) COM(2001) 125 final.

(2001/C 318 E/163)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0914/01

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) and Gianfranco Fini (UEN) to the Commission

Subject: Poultry crisis in Italy

(28 March 2001)

No doubt the Commission is aware of the poultry crisis which affected several regions of northern Italy in
1999, particularly Lombardy and Veneto.

In December 1999, there was an outbreak of the highly virulent influenza strain H7N1. The European
Union and the government minimised the phenomenon, and the Commission did not give proper
consideration to the fact that if vaccines were not used, the virus could become more virulent.

in August 2000,

When later,
the virus remained at a low level of
pathogenicity thanks to vaccination. However, the EU and the Italian Government were not really troubled
by the 9,4 million chickens which died or were killed in Lombardy alone (1 354 880 in the province of
Bergamo, 4 728 357 in Brescia, 132 103 in Cremona and 3 254 676 in Mantua, representing 26 % of total
stocks).

influenza spread once again,

The figures are striking in view of the sizes of the areas involved and the percentage of birds lost, which
was 26 % of a total of 36 480 000, and the fact that over 13 million birds were killed in Veneto. Without
wishing to dramatise, it is a fact that the national health authorities and the technical Commission bodies
acted in unison in backing the mass slaughter ideology. The result was that the actual breeders (not the
livestock lessors) suffered enormous commercial losses (interruption of commercial activities for several
months) caused by the steps taken by the veterinary authorities.

C 318 E/152

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.11.2001

Can the Commission say whether:

(cid:129) it has been able to quantify these figures?

(cid:129) it has calculated the total compensation for (cid:145)interruption of commercial activities(cid:146)?

(cid:129) it is true that, having made a promise at the negotiating table, the Italian Government cancelled the
360 billion lire subsidy allocated for the right to compensation for indirect loss (resulting from the
interruption to breeding (cid:129) lasting from four to nine months (cid:129) caused by steps taken by the
veterinary authorities)?

(cid:129) any EU aid has taken due account of compensation for these losses?

(cid:129) it has checked that the legislation governing viral emergencies in the bird-rearing sector is still

appropriate, or whether it needs to be updated?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(31 May 2001)

The Commission was and is fully aware of the problems caused by the outbreak of the highly pathogenic
avian influenza in December 1999 in Northern Italy.

Between 17 December 1999 and 5 April 2000, it has been reported that a total of 13,7 millions animals
died or were destroyed (of which 9,6 millions were in Lombardia and 4 millions in Veneto) in 413 disease
outbreaks, whereas 2,2 millions adult birds and 5,4 millions day old chicks were preventively killed in
suspected farms. The total of 21,3 millions animals should be compared to annual placings of 573 millions
chicks of all poultry species in 1999 which amounts to 3,7 %.

The Commission was informed about the intention of the Italian Government to provide compensation for
indirect losses for the poultry industry resulting from interruption of production caused by movement
restrictions and other sanitary preventive measures introduced to avoid spread of disease, but no central
government measure was ever notified.

The Italian authorities have however notified national aid schemes for both the Lombardia (aid N 49/2000)
and Veneto (aid N 248/2000), which envisage compensation for the losses resulting from the interruption
of production. The Commission has authorised the aides for Lombardia amounting to ITL 5 billion, and it
is currently awaiting for clarifications from the Italian authorities aimed at verifying that the aid measure
envisaged for Veneto, and amounting to ITL 15 billion, satisfies all the requirements set by the applicable
State aid rules.

Although the Commission has not calculated the (cid:145)total compensation for interruption of commercial
activities(cid:146) it has proceeded to a verification of all elements of the above aid schemes.

Community measures for the control and eradication of avian influenza are laid down in Council Directive
92/40/EEC of 19 May 1992 (1). These measures include stamping out of infected flocks and contact flocks
and controlling movement of poultry, products originating from poultry, vehicles and any other substances
liable to transmit avian influenza virus. Furthermore, emergency vaccination may be used. The measures
listed in the legislation are still appropriate. The avian influenza virus causing the epidemic in Italy was
a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus. The epidemiological studies have shown that the virus derived
from a low pathogenic virus, which had circulated in the poultry prior to the epidemic. With the aim to
clarify aspects of the pathogenicity of the avian influenza virus and its potential to change its pathogenicity
the Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare was consulted on this issue. The outcome
of the consultation was published in a report, SANCO/B3/AH/R17/2000, and made available on the
Commission(cid:146)s homepage under
link: http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/scah/out-
come_en.html

following

the

The same report contains information on vaccination against avian influenza.

The opinion delivered by the Scientific Committee, the progress made in avian influenza diagnostic tests
and the experience gained from the avian influenza outbreaks in Italy are included in the background
documentation to be used during an updating of the disease control measures governed by Council
Directive 92/40/EEC.

(1) OJ L 167, 22.6.1992.