WRITTEN QUESTION E-0934/01 by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. ISO and the Nordic methods.
Date: 2001-03-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Finland, Sweden, food contamination, meat, veterinary inspection

C 318 E/154

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.11.2001

Commission and national authorities, in close co-operation with other interested parties, keep the use of
dental amalgams under constant scrutiny and follow attentively the development of substitutes and their
impact on health.

(1) OJ L 169, 12.7.1993.

(2001/C 318 E/166)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0928/01

by Jonas Sj(cid:246)stedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(28 March 2001)

Subject: Dismissal and pensions

A Danish documentary shown on Swedish TV has outraged the public. It reported on a number of
problems involving the EU administration and organisation.

One item referred to Hubert Onidi, an official who used to work in ECHO. He was dismissed from the
Commission for involvement in fraud relating to ECHO projects. According to the documentary, the aid
money was found in his wife(cid:146)s bank account in Luxembourg.

Despite being sacked for irregularities, Mr Onidi
employers refuse to pay a pension if
Commission not follow the same principle?

is receiving a pension from the Commission. Many
the employee is dismissed for irregularities. Why does the

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(5 June 2001)

In the case referred to by the Honourable Member, the appointing authority decided to remove the official
from his post and to reduce his pension rights.

The sanctions of dismissal and pension reduction were considered by the responsible authorities to be
appropriate to the gravity of the offences for which the official was formal guilty. Those offences did not
include fraud as the question says, they related to various failures to meet the obligations of independence
and honesty to which officials are bound under the Staff Regulations.

Since the case is still pending before the European Court of First Instance, the Commission is not in
a position to provide further information.

(2001/C 318 E/167)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0934/01

by Jonas Sj(cid:246)stedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(28 March 2001)

Subject: ISO and the (cid:145)Nordic(cid:146) methods

Salmonella contamination of meat can be detected using either the ISO or the Nordic method. In the EU
the former has been the rule. However, on 10 March 1998 Commissioner Fischler told the European
Parliament that the Council was discussing the possiblity of using the Nordic method as a reference
method.

How many Member States are now using the Nordic method as the reference for ascertaining whether
meat is contaminated by salmonella? What is the Commission doing to promote the use of the Nordic
method rather than the ISO method as the reference method?

13.11.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 318 E/155

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(7 June 2001)

According to the additional guarantees granted to Finland and Sweden in the context of their Act of
Accession to the Community live animals, eggs and fresh meat from other Member States have to be tested
for salmonella before dispatch to Finland or Sweden. Alternatively these animals or products have to be
derived from holdings or establishments subject to salmonella control programme recognised as equivalent
to those of Finland and Sweden.

The rules for the microbiological testing of meat intended to Finland and Sweden are laid down in Council
Decisions 95/409/EC of 22 June 1995 laying down the rules for the microbiological testing by sampling
of fresh beef and veal and pigmeat intended for Finland and Sweden (1) and 95/411/EC of 22 June 1995
laying down the rules for the microbiological testing for salmonella by sampling of fresh poultrymeat
intended for Finland and Sweden (1). The method to be used for the testing of meat was originally the
International organisation for standardisation (ISO) 6579:1993. Following the opinion of the Scientific
Veterinary Committee of 3 June 1996 the method described by the Nordic Committee on Food Analysis
(NMKL No 71) was added to the authorised methods by Council Decision 98/227/EC of 16 March 1998
amending Decisions 95/409/EC, 95/410/EC and 95/411/EC concerning the methods to be used for
microbiological testing to be undertaken on meat intended for Finland and Sweden (2). This means that the
food businesses in the Member States can use either the ISO method or the Nordic method when testing
meat intended for Finland or Sweden. The Commission does not have complete information concerning
the different salmonella methods used in the Member States for testing of meat.

Otherwise there are no salmonella criteria or analysis methods laid down for testing of fresh meat in the
Community legislation. While Council Directive 94/65/EC of 14 December 1994 (3),
lays down
salmonella criteria for minced meat and meat preparations. This Directive does not fix methods to be
used for the testing of salmonella.

(1) OJ L 243, 11.10.1995.
(2) OJ L 87, 21.3.1998.
(3) OJ L 368, 31.12.1994.

(2001/C 318 E/168)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0936/01

by Jonas Sj(cid:246)stedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(28 March 2001)

Subject: Timetable for refurbishing the Berlaymont

According to Swedish media reports there have been considerable delays in the reconstruction of the
Commission(cid:146)s former headquarters the Berlaymont building and the estimated cost has risen sharply.

Who will be liable for the costs of these delays? Does the Commission have it in writing that the suppliers
will bear the costs of the delays? Who is responsible for the delays? When does the Commission expect to
move back into the Berlaymont?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(5 June 2001)

As Vice-President Kinnock made clear in a press release on 5 December 2000 and in his statement to the
Commission on budgetary control (Cocobu) on 26 February 2001, the Commission received detailed
information in November 2000 showing that renovation work on the Berlaymont building will continue