WRITTEN QUESTION E-1188/01 by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Techniques for detecting meat from animals fed on illegal feedingstuffs.
Date: 2001-04-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Spain, animal nutrition, cattle, cereal substitute, research method

C 340 E/194

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.12.2001

The Commission feels that it is the task of the Member States to promote and ensure the correct and
effective application of the national measures implementing the Community directives.

Since 1992 the Commission has supported several initiatives to boost the awareness of the various parties
concerned, at European level and in close cooperation with the Member States, with a view to improving
the effectiveness of measures adopted in this field.

These were:

(cid:129) the European Year of Health and Safety at Work (1992);

(cid:129) (cid:145)PRevent(cid:146) actions (2) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as part of the Safety Actions for
Europe Programme (SAFE) in 1997 and 1998, which will continue under the new initiative for SMEs
launched with the creation of a specific line in the Community budget which will be managed by the
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work in Bilbao;

(cid:129) several (cid:145)European Weeks(cid:146), which the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work in Bilbao is now
responsible for organising. In 2000 the European Week(cid:146)s subject was musculoskeletal disorders, and in
October 2001 the theme will be the prevention of accidents at work.

Finally, the Honourable Member(cid:146)s attention is drawn to the preparation of the new Community strategy on
safety and health at work, which will establish a framework for future action to achieve an ongoing
improvement in working conditions for European workers.

(1) ESAW data (European Statistics on Accidents at Work) from Eurostat, http://www.cc.cec/eurostat/eudor-stat/mst3/

en/titres.htm.

(2) Awareness actions on safety and health at work in general as well as the promotion and exchange of best practices

in SMEs.

(2001/C 340 E/223)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1188/01

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 April 2001)

Subject: Techniques for detecting meat from animals fed on illegal feedingstuffs

A technique devised by Spanish researchers at the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cient(cid:237)ficas [= Senior
Scientific Research Council] is capable of determining whether nor not any bovine product (meat, skin,
horns, hooves) comes from a beast fed on meal containing any kind of meat, which in the case of
ruminant animals has been banned since 1994.

Initial trials of the technique carried out on 350 samples of animals and of meat purchased in Spanish
shops proved highly successful and information regarding the technique has already been conveyed to the
Spanish Government.

Does the Commission not think that it should provide support to help consolidate the initial (and highly
encouraging) results of the technique by approving the latter and by providing a major share of the
funding required to finance relevant research work?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(26 June 2001)

The Commission is aware of the new testing method being developed in Spain to detect meat and bone
meal in feed and whether cattle have been fed such meal, and is carefully considering the scientific validity
of the method and will consider authorising its use, should trials prove to be satisfactory.