WRITTEN QUESTION P-1794/01 by Karin Riis-Jørgensen (ELDR) to the Commission. Incorrect implementation of Directive 92/46/EEC in Denmark.
Date: 2001-06-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Denmark, food inspection, marketing, milk product, raw milk

C 350 E/226

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.12.2001

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(23 July 2001)

After starting well the 2000/2001 farm year saw extended periods of drought in late August/early
September, which, accompanied by swarms of parasites, have led to much lower output than forecast. The
cereal balance has proved unreliable, varying as it does from one source to another. Monitoring cereal
prices has therefore been the preferred method for assessing food security. This indicator shows that the
year has been mediocre but not disastrous, which is why the Commission has no plans for emergency aid.
The situation in some areas is nevertheless worrying: non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and bilateral
or multilateral partners are focusing on those areas.

Operations are decided in Niger by a joint consultative commission, the CMC, which comprises the
government, official donors contributing to the CMC-run system and public institutions providing effective
and permanent food aid to Niger.

Its role is to determine the use of a number of hunger-relief and -prevention tools:

(cid:129) physical reserves in the form of a national security stock (SNS) used to distribute food free of charge

in areas where the situation is judged critical

(cid:129) financial reserves in the form of a food security fund (FSA) used to regulate prices on the cereal

market (the sale of cereals at moderate prices)

(cid:129) a common intervention fund financed by the donors (FI-FCD) for cash-for-work, food-for-work or self-

sufficiency programmes

(cid:129) bilaterally-managed food aid counterpart funds.

The CMC draws its information from the early-warning system (EWS) set up to monitor communities at
risk and analyse the data gathered and from the cereal and livestock market information systems (SIMs).

The Community has been using the budget heading for food security to support the government(cid:146)s famine
prevention and management system since 1996. So far 25 000 tonnes have been mobilised this season.
The Community has directly contributed by making available 1 000 tonnes of cereals.
It has also
contributed CFAF 3 430 000 000 towards the FSA and the FI-FCD for 2000-2001. Furthermore, about
€ 2 million has been set aside for financing NGO operations (Care DK and SOS-Sahel).

In addition to support from the budget heading, food security has been a focal sector for the Eighth
European Development Fund (EDF), accounting for commitments of about € 40 million over the period
1999-2001) and should remain a focal sector under the ninth EDF. The rural development projects
financed by the EDF build on successful experiments to improve the food security of rural communities:
irrigation schemes, support for better management of natural resources (soil
collective or individual
rehabilitation,
land management and reafforestation), development of microfinancing, establishment of
cereal and agricultural-input banks, financing of livestock-watering and drinking-water points, support for
farmers(cid:146) and women(cid:146)s organisations, market research studies, stock-farming activities and, in the future,
support for agricultural research in Niger.

(2001/C 350 E/255)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1794/01

by Karin Riis-Jłrgensen (ELDR) to the Commission

(13 June 2001)

Subject: Incorrect implementation of Directive 92/46/EEC in Denmark

Further to my Question No H-0364/01 (1) concerning the incorrect implementation of Directive 92/46/
EEC (2) in Denmark, tabled for Question Time at Parliament(cid:146)s part-session in May 2001 in Strasbourg,
I would ask the following supplementary question.

11.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 350 E/227

Article 4 of Directive 92/46/EEC lays down the Community health provisions governing the production
and marketing of raw milk for direct consumption.

Is it the Commission(cid:146)s view that Article 4 also lays down the Community health provisions governing the
production and marketing of milk-based products derived from raw milk, or is it the Commission(cid:146)s view
that Article 4 has a bearing on the interpretation of the health provisions governing the production and
marketing of milk-based products derived from raw milk contained in Article 7 of Directive 92/46/EEC?

If it is not the Commission(cid:146)s view that Article 4 has a bearing on the interpretation of Article 7 of Directive
92/46/EEC, can the Commission explain why it has not ensured that Denmark has correctly implemented
Directive 92/46/EEC?

(1) Written answer of 15 May 2001.
(2) OJ L 268, 14.9.1992, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(5 July 2001)

Article 4 of Council Directive 92/46/EEC of 16 June 1992 laying down the health rules for the production
and placing on the market of raw milk, heat-treated milk and milk-based products actually refers only to
the placing on the market of raw milk for human consumption.

Article 7 of the same Directive lays down the conditions for the production and placing on the market of
milk-based products.

Under the terms of Article 7 (A. 9), milk-based products must have undergone heat treatment during the
manufacturing process or be made from products that have undergone heat treatment or involve hygiene
specifications that are sufficient to meet the guaranteed hygiene criteria for all finished products.

The Commission interprets this provision to mean that it is the responsibility of the Member State in
which the product is manufactured to decide whether hygiene specifications are sufficient.

It follows from this that if Denmark concludes that the use of raw milk does not offer sufficient hygiene
guarantees, it is entitled to prohibit the production and placing on the market of milk-based products
manufactured in its territory that have not undergone heat treatment.

(2001/C 350 E/256)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1798/01

by Isidoro SÆnchez Garc(cid:237)a (ELDR) to the Commission

(19 June 2001)

Subject: Investigation concerning the TUI/Neckermann/T-Online (Internet Dutch Telecom) joint venture

It is no secret that the Commission is investigating the joint venture which has been set up by the two
German holiday companies (TUI and Neckermann) and the company T-Online (a subsidiary of Internet
Dutch Telecom) for the purpose of selling package tours via the Internet.

In view of the significance of TUI and Neckermann to the European tourist industry (particularly in
Germany and Spain), could the Commission provide information regarding the current state of
its
negotiations and the impact which the activities of the new company are having?