WRITTEN QUESTION E-3304/01 by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Salmonella in meat imported into Sweden.
Date: 2001-11-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU production, Sweden, drafting of EU law, health certificate, health control, import, meat, zoonosis

C 115 E/250

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

16.5.2002

(2002/C 115 E/269)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3301/01

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(28 November 2001)

Subject: Standardisation of LPG bottles

One group that actually does move between the various Member States is caravan and camper-van
enthusiasts. Tourism is also a priority sector in the Union as it helps to boost employment.

There are, however, no EU standards which enable caravan and camper-van owners to exchange a full LPG
bottle for an empty one. Each country has different forms of material and connections for LPG bottles,
which makes it difficult for Swedish campers, for example, to tour abroad for lengthy periods.

The problem would seem to be the same for all mobile homes throughout Europe when used for touring.

Has the Commission examined in more detail the need for a standardised EU LPG bottle as a complement
to the various national types in the Member States, which fits all connections and can be changed at petrol
stations and other outlets throughout the internal market?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(16 January 2002)

The Community law currently in force with regard to the LPG bottles to which the honourable Member
refers covers the fundamental requirements, which concern primarily the safety of users. The Community
law that currently applies does not yet cover the type of connections as such.

Any initiative with regard to the compatibility of connections in Europe would involve prior and thorough
consideration, with a view to assessing the need for Community action, of the problems relating to the
shortcomings in the matter of such connections and their repercussions for the proper operation of the
single market.

(2002/C 115 E/270)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3304/01

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(28 November 2001)

Subject: Salmonella in meat imported into Sweden

Tests carried out by the Swedish National Food Administration (SNFA) on 72 consignments of meat
imported from Member States found that one in eight contained salmonella. For pigmeat the figure was
one in four 5 despite the fact that the meat must be guaranteed free of contamination. Of 14 bacteria
strains analysed in the contaminated meat, 12 proved to be resistant to one or another antibiotic and two
were resistant to six types of antibiotic.

These findings are contained in the SNFA’s report ‘Guarantee Project 2000’. Of the 72 consignments
tested, 29 were beef, 24 pigmeat and 19 poultry. Of the pigmeat, more than one in four consignments
proved to contain salmonella, as did two consignments of poultry. Salmonella was most common in
pigmeat from Germany. Five of the 10 consignments tested were contaminated despite having undergone
checks. The SNFA also examined documents in respect of 532 consignments of meat covered by the

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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salmonella guarantee to ascertain whether they complied with EU rules. In 83 % of cases, the certification
was correct. The SNFA concludes that the knowledge that Sweden has special rules for salmonella must be
disseminated more effectively, and that salmonella may be found in consignments despite having due
certification. One option would be to send back consignments from ‘notorious offenders’ if certification is
missing or incorrect.

The EU must require that 100 % of the meat imported into Sweden has the correct certification. What does
the Commission intend to do to ensure that will be the case?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(24 January 2002)

The Commission would like to point out that the Swedish National Food Administration (Livsmedelsver-
kets) has not informed the Commission of the ‘Guarantee Project 2000’ report to which the Honourable
Member’s question refers. It would be possible for the Commission to inform Member States of the results
of monitoring by the Swedish authorities, if it had full and official information.

The Swedish authorities have good reason, when applying the additional guarantees granted under that
country’s Act of Accession, to carry out certain checks on consignments of meat received from other
Member States, while respecting the provisions of Directive 89/662/EEC (1). In addition to bilateral contacts
between the Member States and the Swedish authorities, the latter use the Community’s computerised
rapid alert system for food to notify the Commission of discoveries of contaminated consignments and the
measures taken. The Commission immediately passes the information on to the other Member States. In
the case of recurring problems of the same origin, the Commission can ensure an individual follow-up and
insist on remedial action. If necessary, the Food and Veterinary Office may be asked to carry out an
inspection mission.

The Commission is developing measures to reduce the risk of people contracting salmonellosis from food.
On 1 August 2001 it adopted a report and two proposals submitted to the Council and Parliament on the
control and prevention of zoonoses (2). The Commission has proposed a regulation which will set
Community targets for the reduction of zoonoses in specific animal populations and possibly at other
stages in the food chain. Following a transitional period, restrictions will apply to the marketing of eggs
and poultry meat.

(1) Council Directive 89/662/EEC of 11 December 1989 concerning veterinary checks in intra-Community trade with a

view to the completion of the internal market (OJ L 395, 30.12.1989).

(2) COM(2001) 452 final (report); OJ C 304 E, 30.10.2001 (proposals).

(2002/C 115 E/271)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3309/01

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Maladministration by Greek insurance organisations

(28 November 2001)

The Greek Ombudsman’s annual report for 2000 states that maladministration is widespread among
insurance organisations, and this seriously hampers the process of issuing pensions, especially in cases in
which a person has paid contributions to successive schemes either within Greece or 5 and this is often
the case 5 in Greece and other EU countries.

As a result of these delays, a large group of citizens 5 mainly Greek immigrants and migrant workers 5
are deprived of the right to be issued with their pension act in good time; this constitutes an indirect
barrier to the free movement of workers, which is one of the basic principles and objectives of the
European Union.