WRITTEN QUESTION E-1933/02 by Dorette Corbey (PSE) to the Commission. Operation of the rapid alert system in response to nitrofen contamination.
Date: 2002-07-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Germany, animal nutrition, consumer protection, exchange of information, food safety, foodstuffs legislation, human nutrition, information system

C 301 E/248

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

5.12.2002

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(5 August 2002)

The Commission was unaware of the situation reported by the Honourable Members and did not in fact
receive the complaint mentioned by them until after receiving this written question and the accompanying
annexes.

Given the information available, the Commission cannot at this stage issue an opinion as to whether the
directives referred to in the written question have been contravened and has, therefore, registered the
complaint with a view to obtaining further information on the matter.

(2002/C 301 E/263)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1933/02

by Dorette Corbey (PSE) to the Commission

(3 July 2002)

Subject: Operation of the rapid alert system in response to nitrofen contamination

In May 2002, it was reported that the weedkiller nitrofen, which is banned in the EU, had been found in
cereals in Germany and in poultry feed made from them. Pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 laying
down the general principles and requirements of
food law, establishing the European Food Safety
Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety (1), a Member State is required to notify
the Commission immediately of any serious direct or indirect risk to human health arising from a foodstuff
or animal
feed which comes to its attention, and the Commission is to forward this information
immediately to the members of the network. However, according to the Belgian press Germany only
informed the Commission and the Member States which appear to have been involved, while the other
Member States received insufficient official
information (De Morgen, 15 June 2002). The letter of
30 May 2002 from the Dutch minister to the Lower House of Parliament (Parliamentary Paper 26991, no
67) does not mention the role of the rapid alert system in the dissemination of information about the
nitrofen contamination. The letter states that the information was received from the German authorities.

Can the Commission confirm that the rapid alert system came into operation for the purpose of

1.
forwarding information about the nitrofen contamination in Germany?

2. What is the Commission’s assessment of the way in which the rapid alert system operated?

If the rapid alert system did not operate satisfactorily, can the Commission say why this was, in its

3.
view, and what improvements it intends to make?

4.
Does the Commission agree that confidence in European rules and procedures relating to food safety
is essential and that proper communication concerning European action is important? What arrangements
has the Commission made for such communication?

(1) OJ L 31, 1.2.2002, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(1 August 2002)

The Commission confirms that the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed, established by Regulation (EC)
No 178/2002 of the Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2002 laying down the general principles
food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down
and requirements of
procedures in matters of
the network on the
contamination by nitrofen in the feed and food chain. The Commission considers that the information
exchange through this system functions very well. However, the system depends on the information

food safety, was used to inform the members of

5.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 301 E/249

transmitted by the members of the network. Therefore the Commission continuously reminds the Member
States that the good functioning of the system depends on the timely transmission of information as
detailed and complete as possible.

Growing interest from third countries demonstrates the positive perception of the Rapid Alert System for
Food and Feed by food control authorities world-wide.

The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member that confidence in the rules and procedures relating
to food safety and communication are essential. In the particular case of the contamination by nitrofen, the
Commission has constantly reacted to all media enquiries,
issued a specific press release and posted
information on the web-site of the Directorate-General for Health and Consumer Protection.

(2002/C 301 E/264)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1940/02

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(26 June 2002)

Subject: Satellite agency in Rome

For several months now the Italian media (cid:1) particularly the Rome newspapers (cid:1) have been talking about
the possible siting in Rome of a European Multimodal Satellite Navigation Agency, coming under the
Galileo programme. The mayor of Rome has also stated on several occasions that Rome might manage to
be chosen as host city for the agency, which would lead to the creation of approximately one hundred and
twenty thousand jobs. The mayor recently said that the decision on the matter should have been taken at
the Seville summit, but had been postponed until early July.

However, Council Regulation (EC) No 876/2002 (1) of 21 May 2002 paints a different picture. Under the
provisions of the regulation, over the next four years the programme is to be managed by a joint
undertaking based in Brussels and made up of representatives of the fifteen Member States and of private
following which, starting in 2007, during the deployment stage, the satellites will be
undertakings,
launched through the European Space Agency, with their management subsequently being entrusted to
consortia of private companies coming under the control of the European Union.

Given the above, would the Commission state:

(cid:1) whether the Galileo programme provides for the setting up of a European Multimodal Satellite

Navigation Agency, and if so, what resources are to be allocated to the agency;

(cid:1) whether the agency might be based in Rome and whether it is likely to lead to the creation of

approximately one hundred and twenty thousand jobs;

(cid:1) what future developments are provided for in the Galileo programme?

(1) OJ L 138, 28.5.2002, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(23 July 2002)

The fourth paragraph of Article 1 of Council Regulation (EC) No 876/2002 of 21 May 2002 setting up the
Galileo Joint Undertaking states that its seat shall be located in Brussels.

The purpose of the Joint Undertaking, set up for a period of four years (from 2002 to 2005), is to manage
only the development phase of the programme.