WRITTEN QUESTION E-2866/01 by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Threat to Swedish fish.
Date: 2001-10-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Sweden, derogation from EU law, fishing industry, foodstuffs legislation, technical barriers to trade, toxic substance

C 205 E/10

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.8.2002

The main tasks of the Commission in its implementation of the Programme will be to:

(cid:22) analyse and integrate gender into the six priority areas for Community development co-operation

activities;

(cid:22) mainstream gender within projects or programmes designed at country and regional level and

(cid:22) build internal gender capacity.

The Commission expects the Development Council of 8 November 2001 to adopt conclusions on the
Programme of Action and looks forward to a discussion of its Communication with the Parliament.

(1) COM(2001) 295 final.

(2002/C 205 E/010)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2866/01

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(17 October 2001)

Subject: Threat to Swedish fish

A Commission proposal on limit values for dioxin in fish could deal a deathblow to the Swedish fishing
industry. According to Sweden’s National Fisheries Board, the proposal will probably result in a total ban
on the sale of salmon and eels from the Baltic Sea.

There is also a risk that the sale for consumption of herring and Baltic herring caught in the Baltic Sea
could be prohibited. The worst-case scenario could see a couple of thousand fishermen lose their jobs.

Sweden favours the introduction of limit values in this area, but they are being introduced too soon, and
the scientific basis for them is still not sufficient.

It is important not to act too hastily. Has the Commission assessed the possible effects of its proposal on
limit values for dioxin in fish on employment in Sweden?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(15 January 2002)

The Commission is aware of the possible effects the measures on maximum levels in fish could have on
the employment in the fishery sector, as mentioned by the Honourable Member. But the problem has to
be considered under the different aspects in particular the public health aspects besides the possible
economic consequences.

The Commission proposed to Council on 28 August 2001 measures (1) on maximum limits on dioxins as
part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce the presence of dioxins in the environment, feed and food. The
most important objective for the Commission is the protection of public health by reducing human
exposure to dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

The measures for the reduction of human exposure through food are justified by the fact that the intake of
dioxins by a considerable part of the European population exceeds the tolerable intake set by the Scientific
Committee on Food. The socio-economic impact of the proposals has also been taken into account, but it
must be clear that this cannot have precedence over the necessary level of human health protection based
on the scientific advice.

29.8.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 205 E/11

The Council adopted on 29 November 2001 a Council Regulation (EC) No 2375/2001 (2) amending
Commission Regulation (EC) No 466/2001 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs.
This Regulation establishes maximum levels for dioxins and furans in several foodstuffs, including fish and
fishery products and products thereof.

For a temporary period ending in 2006, the Council granted Finland and Sweden a derogation from the
application of the maximum levels for fish originating from the Baltic region intended for consumption in
their territory.

The Commission accepted this derogation taking into account the following elements:

(cid:22) a significant part of the Baltic fatty fish will not comply with the maximum level and would thus be

excluded from the Swedish and Finnish diet;

(cid:22) exclusion of fish from the diet may have a negative health impact in Sweden and Finland because:

(cid:22) Baltic fish is the main source of vitamin D among the elderly in these countries. Intake of vitamin

D is of major importance in the Northern regions with low solar light;

(cid:22) Baltic fish would be replaced by cheaper cuts of meat, containing high levels of hard fats which

increase the risk of cardiovascular disease;

(cid:22) total human exposure to dioxins in Finland and Sweden is not higher than in other European

countries;

(cid:22) Finland and Sweden have a system in place ensuring that consumers are fully informed of the
dietary recommendations concerning restrictions on consumption of Baltic fish by identified
vulnerable groups of the population in order to avoid potential health risks;

(cid:22) Finland and Sweden will intensively monitor the presence of dioxins in fish from the Baltic region
and report each year the results and the measures taken to reduce human exposure to dioxins
from fish from the Baltic region.

(1) COM(2001) 495 final.
(2) OJ L 321, 6.12.2001.

(2002/C 205 E/011)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2882/01

by Markus Ferber (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 October 2001)

Subject: Granting of tariff quota for the duty-free import of lawnmower engines

In 2000 and 2001 a tariff quota was available for European lawnmower manufacturers for the duty-free
import of 1 200 000 lawnmower engines per year, tariff quota No 09.2976. The Commission does not
intend to make a proposal to the Council for the granting of a tariff quota for 2002. This is because it has
been rejected by one Member State, Italy.

This position has been adopted on the basis that Tecumseh Europe, an engine manufacturer based in
Turin, meets the requirements of the European manufacturing market with its Italian engine production.
Tecumseh claims to have sold 900 000 engines to date. Until the cut-off date, 19 September 2001,
1 117 291 engines had been imported from third countries. It is to be assumed that total demand will
reach 2 400 000 engines by the end of the year.

Furthermore, lawnmowers can be imported duty-free as a finished product. Competitive disadvantages will
thus arise for European lawnmower manufacturers if no provision is made for duty-free import of engines.