WRITTEN QUESTION P-1157/01 by Francesco Speroni (TDI) to the Commission. Protected designation of origin (PDO) products: use of additives and preservatives in cheese-making.
Date: 2001-04-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Italy, application of EU law, consumer protection, designation of origin, food additive, foodstuffs legislation, hard cheese

3.7.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 187 E/233

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 2001)

These issues have been previously addressed in a number of contexts including the report of
the
Committee of Enquiry about BSE and its follow-up. The Commission is once more reviewing this
information and will communicate its findings as soon as possible.

(2001/C 187 E/264)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0944/01

by John McCartin (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(28 March 2001)

Subject: Poultry imports to the EU

Can the Commission indicate the quantities of poultrymeat imported annually into the EU and the
countries from which those imports come?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(27 April 2001)

Because of the length of the answer, which includes a number of tables, the Commission is sending it
direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat.

(2001/C 187 E/265)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1157/01

by Francesco Speroni (TDI) to the Commission

(3 April 2001)

Subject: Protected designation of origin (PDO) products: use of additives and preservatives in cheese-

making

Bearing in mind that:

(cid:129) the rules and specifications laid down for the production of Grana Padano DOC (controlled origin
denomination) cheese do not provide for the use of preservatives and, more particularly, the additive
E1105 (lysozyme),

(cid:129) paragraph 2D of Ministerial Decree 209/1996, which implements Community Directives 94/34/EC (1),
94/35/EC (2), 94/36/CE (3), 95/2/EC (4) and 95/31/EC (5) by laying down rules on additives, specifies
that an additive may be used provided it is not used to conceal the use of inferior raw materials or
undesirable practices or techniques (including unhygienic practices),

(cid:129) the preservative E1105 (lysozyme) is used in the production of Grana Padano DOC cheese because it
makes it possible to use milk that does not comply with the hygiene standards laid down in Directive
92/46/EEC (Annex A, Chapter IV) (6),

(cid:129) the Italian Minister of Health has confirmed, in a note of 18 June 1999 sent to the Commission
(DG XXIV), that almost all the Italian milk that does not comply with those standards is used for the
production of Grana Padano DOP or Parmigiano Reggiano DOP,

(cid:129) the CSQA (body for the Certification of Quality Systems in the Agri-Food sector), the only certifying
body recognised by the Italian government for the certification of Grana Padano, allows the addition
of lysozyme as a preservative in its inspection plan even though it is not allowed by the production
specifications for Grana Padano DOP.

C 187 E/234

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.7.2001

In view of the foregoing,

(cid:129) Can the use of the preservative E1105 be allowed even if there is no express provision for its use in
the rules and specifications for the production of Grana Padano DOP, or has the Commission granted
special exemptions?

(cid:129) Is the use of lysozyme not regarded as an obvious subterfuge to allow DOP cheese to be made from

milk that does not meet the requirements laid down in Directive 92/46/EC?

(cid:129) Does the Commission regard lysozyme as completely innocuous to consumers(cid:146) health?

(1) OJ L 237, 10.9.1994, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 237, 10.9.1994, p. 3.
(3) OJ L 237 of 10.9.1994, p. 13.
(4) OJ L 61, 18.3.1995, p. 1.
(5) OJ L 178, 28.7.1995, p. 1.
(6) OJ L 268, 14.9.1992, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(25 April 2001)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its
findings as soon as possible.