WRITTEN QUESTION E-0798/02 by Ria Oomen-Ruijten (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Export of manure.
Date: 2002-03-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Lower Saxony, Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, application of EU law, frontier region, intra-EU trade, organic fertiliser, soil conditioning

C 205 E/218

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.8.2002

With regard more specifically to the application of Directive 89/48/EEC by the British Psychological
Society (BPS), which is the authority in charge of the professional recognition of psychologists in the
United Kingdom, the Commission does not know of the individual case mentioned by the Honourable
Members. The Commission would therefore ask the Members to suggest to the party concerned that he/she
provide it with more detailed information on the case in question. If, having examined this information,
it would take
the Commission should establish that
appropriate action including, if necessary, the opening of infringement proceedings against the Member
State concerned.

the Directive in question has been infringed,

The Commission would point out that in the initial years following the application of Directive 89/48/EEC
it knew of several cases in which psychologists with qualifications from other Member States encountered
problems in being recognised by the BPS, but that it has not heard of any new cases since then.

(2002/C 205 E/238)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0798/02

by Ria Oomen-Ruijten (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(21 March 2002)

Subject: Export of manure

Up until December 2000 Germany did not allow Dutch livestock farmers who had a piece of land that
crossed the border with Germany to spread manure from their own farm on the land in German territory.
However, in December 2000 there was a supplementary European decision under which Member States
had to permit this. In 2001 the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries reached
an agreement on this matter with the German Länder of Lower Saxony and North Rhine Westphalia.
Lower Saxony is currently implementing the decision and Dutch livestock farmers are in fact able to
spread manure from their own farms on their land in German territory. North Rhine Westphalia, however,
has still not implemented the decision.

Does the European Commission consider that North Rhine Westphalia has failed to implement the

1.
above decision?

2.

If so, what action can the Commission take?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(25 April 2002)

Pursuant to Annex I, Chapter 14, Part I A, point 1 a) of Council Directive 92/118/EEC of 17 December
1992 laying down animal health and public health requirements governing trade in and imports into the
Community of products not subject to the said requirements laid down in specific Community rules
referred to in Annex A, Chapter I, to Directive 89/662/EEC and, as regards pathogens, to Directive
90/425/EEC (1), as amended by Commission Decision 2001/7/EC of 19 December 2000 (2), trade in
unprocessed manure of species other than poultry or equidae is prohibited, except for manure coming
from an area or holding which is not subject to restrictions by virtue of a serious transmissible disease, and
intended for spreading under the control of the competent authorities on land forming part of or
belonging to the same holding, whether separated or not, located on both sides of the frontier between
Member States and within a distance of approximately 20 kilometres.

In this case, records must be kept by the owner of the holding concerning these cross-frontier movements
in order to be approved. The competent authority must keep a register of such approved holdings.

The Commission was aware of certain problems arising during the introduction into Lower Saxony of
manure from Dutch holdings bordering on Lower Saxony. According to the Commission’s information,
these problems, as the Honourable Member confirms, no longer exist. However, the Commission is not
aware of any refusal by the authorities of North Rhine Westphalia to apply the above-mentioned
conditions.

29.8.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 205 E/219

The Commission will therefore contact the German authorities to check on the situation described by the
Honourable Member.

(1) OJ L 62, 15.3.1993.
(2) OJ L 2, 5.1.2001.

(2002/C 205 E/239)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0799/02

by Niels Busk (ELDR) to the Commission

(14 March 2002)

Subject: Newcastle disease in cormorants

In September 2001, Newcastle disease, an infectious disease of poultry, was found in a sample taken from
cormorants as part of a research project in Denmark.

The relevant legislation is Council Directive 92/66/EEC (1) of 14 July 1992, concerning poultry, racing
pigeons and other birds kept in captivity. Wild birds living freely, such as cormorants, are not covered by
this directive, but when an infection is detected in such birds, individual Member States must inform the
Commission of any measures they have taken.

The directive also stipulates that minimum Community control measures should also be provided for
against Newcastle disease in certain species other than those specified in the directive.

In view of the discovery of Newcastle disease in cormorants in Denmark, will the Commission state:

C How many cases of Newcastle disease in cormorants have been detected in the Member States and

what measures have been taken to control the disease?

C Do the same guidelines apply as apply to outbreaks of the disease in poultry, where the entire flock

has to be killed, and what can be done to ensure against infection?

C What Community control measures have been taken against Newcastle disease in cormorants?

(1) OJ L 260, 5.9.1992, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(22 April 2002)

Newcastle disease is a viral disease of domestic and wild birds including migratory feral waterfowl and
other aquatic birds. The seriousness of this disease varies widely and is dependent on several factors
including different degrees of virulence of distinct virus strains and the host species.

Council Directive 92/66/EEC of 14 July 1992 introducing Community measures for the control of
Newcastle disease, takes into account the particular characteristics of this disease and establishes in which
cases disease control measures should be applied, e.g. in case of serious disease of poultry.

The Member States must provide information to the Commission in cases of disease confirmed in wild
birds. According to the official data available to the Commission, the confirmation of Newcastle disease in
a cormorant in Denmark in 2001 has been the first report of such a disease in cormorants within the
Union. However, scientific literature mentions the detection of Newcastle disease in cormorants in the
United Kingdom (Scotland) in the 1940’s.