WRITTEN QUESTION P-2957/02 by Giovanni Procacci (ELDR) to the Commission. Regulation (EC) No 1019/2002 concerning the labelling of olive oil.
Date: 2002-10-15
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: labelling, marketing, marketing standard, olive oil, originating product, production control

C 110 E/134

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.5.2003

(2003/C 110 E/152)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2949/02

by Ian Hudghton (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(14 October 2002)

Subject: Fleet reductions

Further to the publication of the Commission proposals in relation to the reform of the CFP, and in
particular the proposal for Emergency Measures for Scrapping Fishing Vessels (1), Commission officials
provided oral guarantees to the Scottish fishing industry that the substantial reductions which have taken
place in Scotland in the last two years would be taken into account and incorporated in the proposed
reductions under the aforementioned proposal.

Can the Commission confirm this in writing and provide the exact levels to be achieved in light of the
recent decommissioning which has occurred and is presently being carried out in Scotland?

(1) COM(02) 0190, OJ C 227 E, 24.9.2002, p. 333.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(31 October 2002)

Within the framework of the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), the Commission’s proposals
are to reduce fishing effort and to end compulsory scrapping programmes. There will be improved
provision for decommissioning through the scrapping fund should Member States wish to use it, along
with an entry/exit system for replacement vessels, but no targets will be set for reduction of fishing
capacity in any Member State.

Any decommissioning schemes implemented in Scotland since the beginning of 2001 will clearly
contribute to achieving required fishing mortality targets, and will therefore facilitate compliance with
future fishing effort limits affecting the Scottish fleet.

(2003/C 110 E/153)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2957/02

by Giovanni Procacci (ELDR) to the Commission

(15 October 2002)

Subject: Regulation (EC) No 1019/2002 concerning the labelling of olive oil

The aim of Commission Regulation (EC) 1019/2002 (1) of 13 June 2002 on marketing standards for olive
oil is to regulate the designation of origin, sale, blending and new classification of olive oil. The entry into
force of the Regulation is scheduled for 1 November 2002, with a derogation until 1 November 2003 in
respect of labelling and the description of blends.

Since Union policy devotes more and more care to product quality and consumer protection, ensured
mainly by accurate information, can the Commission say why it is postponing the entry into force of
precisely those provisions of the Regulation which make it possible to ascertain the oil’s origin and thereby
prevent the counterfeiting of products.

Although the derogation will allow producers time to adapt
is
incomprehensible that the Commission should allow the marketing, after 1 November 2003, of products
which are packaged before that date and hence will not comply with the new legislation.

to the new rules on labelling,

it

Can the Commission also say what it intends to do to improve the systems for monitoring production and
marketing which, if not tightened up, will nullify the efforts made to obtain a quality product?

(1) OJ L 155, 14.6.2002, p. 27.

8.5.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 110 E/135

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(31 October 2002)

Article 12 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1019/2002 of 13 June 2002 on marketing standards for
olive oil (1) makes the Regulation applicable from 1 November 2002,

with certain exceptions:

(cid:1) products marketed before 1 August 2002 can be sold until their use-by date

(cid:1) Article 3 (additional information on category), Article 5 (optional indications) and Article 6 (labelling of

mixtures of oils and of foodstuffs in olive oil) apply from 1 November 2003.

Article 4 on indication of origin on labels was in fact applicable from 1 July 2002. It takes over without
alteration and hence ensures the continuity of the arrangements already introduced by Commission
Regulation (EC) No 2815/1998 of 22 December 1998 concerning marketing standards for olive oil (2).

In response to requests from within the sector the Commission is looking into the advisability of amending
Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 1019/2002 so as to extend the deadline for compliance with Article 2 on
requirements pertaining to direct sale of olive oil by producers to consumers and grant an additional
period for using up the labels in stock.

Lastly, the Honourable Member is informed that the Commission continues its policy of stepping up the
policing that already exists based on estimation of the yields of the homogeneous zones, establishment of
the geographical information system for olive cultivation and exclusion of production from new plantings,
in the aim of obtaining the best picture of the true production of mills. The purpose of these measures and
of the important changes introduced in the marketing standards Regulation is to reduce the scope for
fraud and improve the quality of the olive oil sold to the final consumer.

(1) OJ L 155, 14.6.2002.
(2) OJ L 349, 24.12.1998.

(2003/C 110 E/154)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2961/02

by Giovanni Pittella (PSE) to the Commission

(22 October 2002)

Subject: Italian pharmacy system

The structure of the pharmacy sector in Italy has certain notable features:

(cid:1) only pharmacists are authorised to sell pharmaceuticals (of any kind) to the public;

(cid:1) pharmacy numbers are restricted on the basis of the number of inhabitants and the distance between

pharmacies in a given locality;

(cid:1) access to ownership of pharmacies is restricted. More particularly, as regards the transfer of
pharmacies by inheritance, Italian law is conducive to pharmacies being kept within a family in that
it allows descendants in the direct line up to the second degree to retain possession of the pharmacy
until the age of thirty, or for ten years in the case of someone studying pharmacy at university.

In view of this, does the Commission not consider the provisions of Italian law to be incompatible with
the EC Treaty since they actually mean that individual undertakings (cid:1) in this case pharmacies (cid:1) can wield
a monopoly and abuse their position to the detriment of patients and consumers?