WRITTEN QUESTION P-0441/02 by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission. Toxins in scallops.
Date: 2002-02-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: analytical chemistry, health control, live animal, marketing, mollusc, research method

C 160 E/216

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.7.2002

(2002/C 160 E/276)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0412/02

by Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(21 February 2002)

Subject: Brittany in France

1.
Does the Commission regard the Vichy Government’s decision of 30 June 1941 to cut Loire-
Atlantique (Loire-inférieure as it then was), and hence Nantes, the historic capital, off from the rest of
Brittany as an acceptable one? Does the European Union think this arbitrary decision, which has ever since
been perpetuated by all French Governments, right-wing and left-wing alike,
is compatible with the
commitments made by France as a founding Member State, namely to respect subsidiarity, above all when
one opinion poll after another shows that a majority of the inhabitants of the département in question and
those of the Brittany administrative unit are in favour of the restoration of their historic status as a single
unit?

2.
Should France, as a founding Member State of the European Union, not act in the spirit of the ideal
which led to the founding of the EU, and overturn the unilateral decision of the fascist Vichy Government
to deprive historical Brittany of part of its territory?

3. What practical steps does Europe intend to take to push France to ratify and implement within
France the European Charter of Minority or Marginalised Languages which it has signed on its own
territory?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(27 March 2002)

The matter to which reference is made does not fall within the jurisdiction of the Community.

(2002/C 160 E/277)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0441/02

by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(12 February 2002)

Subject: Toxins in scallops

Scallops ; a bivalve mollusc which is highly prized by European consumers ; have long been
contaminated by algae carrying toxins such as ASP and PSP.

Some time ago the Commission, which is responsible for protecting the health of our consumers, fixed
limit values for the presence of these toxins in the edible parts of molluscs. This led to restrictions on
harvesting and marketing which were never applied homogeneously across the whole of the EU. Some
producer regions continued to harvest and market molluscs even though they contained levels of toxins
above the limit. In my own region, Galicia, strict application of the rules has led to a total ban on scallop
harvesting throughout the past seven years, causing heavy financial losses for the extracting industry and
giving rise to illegal harvesting, which is always undesirable.

According to the information I have received, the Commission has now decided to revise the rules, which
are considered excessively stringent, and the Veterinary Committee meeting on 19 February is set to
approve a decision significantly raising the limit values for toxins which, once published, will apply in all
the Member States with effect from March.

This good news will have a significant impact on European regions which depend heavily on fishing, and
on an industry which has been hit particularly hard by the crisis. It will also have positive implications for
consumers, who will be able to obtain this product with the best possible guarantees.

4.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 160 E/217

By how much will the Commission raise the limit values for toxins, and in what parts of molluscs? What
methods will be used for the corresponding analyses? Will the Commission carry out specific campaigns
directed at consumers and geared to enhancing the value of this product?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(5 March 2002)

Council Directive 91/492/EEC of 15 July 1991 lays down the health conditions for the production and the
placing on the market of live bivalve molluscs (1). Chapter V of the Annex to the Directive establishes the
limits of Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP) and Amnesic Shellfish Poison (ASP). The Directive states that the
total PSP content in the edible parts of molluscs must not exceed 80 micrograms per 100 grams of
mollusc flesh. For this toxin nothing will be changed.

Concerning ASP, the Directive states that the level of ’amnesic shellfish poison of 20 micrograms per gram
must not be exceeded in the edible parts of bivalve molluscs intended for human consumption. For bivalve
molluscs belonging to the species Pecten maximus and Pecten jacobaeus, scientific studies showed that
with a toxin concentration in the whole body of between 20 and 250 micrograms per gram, with a
harvesting regime under certain restrictive conditions and after a total removal of hepatopancreas, soft
tissues and any other contaminated part, the concentration of toxin in the edible parts intended for human
consumption is normally below the legal limit of 20 micrograms per gram. In the light of recent scientific
studies, it is important to allow, at the present time, a higher ASP level for the harvesting of bivalve
molluscs belonging to the species referred to above, under a specific Commission Decision limited to this
objective. The purpose of the Decision is to allow the harvesting of bivalve molluscs belonging to the
species Pecten maximus and Pecten jacobaeus with a higher level of ASP in the whole body while
maintaining the legal limit of ASP in the edible parts. Only after total removal of contaminated parts and
under certain conditions, can these molluscs be placed on the market for human consumption.

The analytical method will be, for ASP, the High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) as foreseen
in Council Directive 91/492/EEC. For PSP, the analytical method will be the biological testing method, in
association,
if necessary, with a chemical method for detection of Saxitoxin as foreseen in Council
Directive 91/492/EEC.

No specific campaigns directed to the European consumers to reclaim this product have been foreseen by
the Commission.

(1) OJ L 268, 24.9.1991.

(2002/C 160 E/278)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0446/02

by Mary Banotti (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(21 February 2002)

Subject: Electro-shock stun weapons and restraint equipment and CE mark

Throughout the world, electro-shock devices are being used to torture and ill treat people in prisons,
police stations and detention centres. It has been brought to my attention that many of these ‘stun guns’
bear the CE trademark. Given the wide abuse of such weaponry, weapon manufacturers should be
prevented using CE markings to promote their products. Could the Commission please clarify the process
by which such weapons are accorded the invaluable CE safety marking and how many such manufacturers’
products of this nature have been authorised?