WRITTEN QUESTION E-2771/01 by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Ostrich farming.
Date: 2001-10-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European convention, Northern Europe, animal welfare, livestock farming, poultry, protection of animals

18.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 93 E/189

The Community aid for school milk was reduced from 95 % to 75 % of the target price for milk, with
effect from 1 January 2001. Therefore, and in view of the payment delays, the expenditure for the budget
year 2001 does not fully reflect the impact of the aid reduction.

Member State

Payments 2000

Payments 2001

Belgium

Denmark

Germany

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Italy

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Austria

Portugal

Finland

Sweden

United Kingdom

European Union

2,3

2,8

19,1

0,01

4,8

31,0

1,3

4,9

0,1

2,4

1,6

1,2

3,7

10,6

15,0

100,8

2,1

2,8

16,3

0,0

4,8

21,4

1,5

3,5

0,0

2,0

1,4

2,5

4,3

10,1

12,0

84,7

(2002/C 93 E/225)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2771/01

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(9 October 2001)

Subject: Ostrich farming

On 6 June 1995 Commissioner Fischler told Parliament that a special EU committee had been asked to
consider whether raising ostriches and related species in the Nordic countries constituted cruelty to
animals. Mr Schweitzer had asked the Commission whether it could be right and proper to raise ostriches,
which surely belonged in a dry southern climate rather than the cold North; in his view ostrich farming in
the North was nothing other than cruelty to animals and should be stopped.

The problem was that ostriches did not have a special gland to oil their feathers and make them water-
repellent, and therefore froze as soon as it began to rain.

Mr Fischler replied that the welfare of ostriches and the like would be scrutinised by the Standing
Committee of the European Convention on the Protection of Animals. When the guidelines for the
treatment of ostriches were drawn up the Committee would take full account of
their biological
characteristics.

What has happened on this matter?

C 93 E/190

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2002

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(12 November 2001)

The Standing Committee of the European Convention on the Protection of Animals kept for Farming
Purposes adopted, on 22 April 1997, a Recommendation concerning ratites (Ostriches, Emus and Rheas).
The Recommendation came into force six months later.

Member States, as well as the Community, are contracting parties to the Convention and are expected to
apply the Recommendation.

The Recommendation introduces specific provisions to reduce stress on animals from exposure to low
temperatures, taking into account their biological characteristics. In particular, it provides that farms shall
be situated only in areas where the climate and other conditions allow birds to be kept outside most of the
day in all seasons and where large areas of well drained land can offer sufficient space for their exercise
and grazing needs.

Furthermore,
recommends to lay sand on outside areas when they are icy.

it recommends equipping enclosures where animals are kept with heating devices, and

The Committee will review the Recommendation in 2002, taking into account farming experiences and
new scientific evidence.

(2002/C 93 E/226)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2782/01

by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission

(9 October 2001)

Subject: Harmful effects of mixed strain wines

Community legislation bans the sale, though not the consumption, of wine produced from the hybrid
Clinton, Jacquez, Noah, Isabelle and Herbemont strains.

An article by Jean-Claude Bouvier in Ardèche Parisienne No 1016 claims that there is no truth in the
accusations levelled against wines made from grapes of these strains which have even, apparently, been
being developed by the Montpellier INRA (National Agricultural Research Institute) for nearly six years.

Does the Commission believe that there is conclusive evidence that wine made from these strains is
harmful to public health? If so, would it please provide exact references for the relevant scientific sources?

If it has been conclusively shown that drinking such wines is harmful to the public, is it not simply
incomprehensible that what is banned is merely the sale and not the consumption thereof which is
banned?

Is it not essential that the public be fully and unambiguously informed as to the possible harmful effects
(or lack of them) of drinking this kind of wine?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(23 November 2001)

The Commission has no knowledge of the article cited by the Honourable Member.

Article 19 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 of 17 May 1999 on common organisation of the
in wine (1) provides that only vine varieties appearing in the classifications established by
market
Member States may be used for wine production, unless the wine is intended for consumption by the
producer’s family. This provision has been in the Community rules since 1987.

Since 1979 the rules have not allowed the six hybrid varieties mentioned to be included in the
classifications of authorised and recommended varieties. Hence since that date it has been illegal to plant
them in the Community.

In France it has been illegal since 1935 to plant them and since 1953 to offer their wine for sale for
human consumption. All vines had to be grubbed up before 1957.