WRITTEN QUESTION P-2963/02 by Christa Klaß (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Financial participation by the EU in BSE monitoring programmes.
Date: 2002-10-15
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, Germany, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, disease prevention, financial aid, health control, veterinary legislation

C 92 E/222

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

17.4.2003

Natural compounds occurring in essential oils may have been prevented from oxidising by virtue of other
natural components present e.g. furanocoumarins. There is often no such buffering system present with
mixtures of synthetic compounds. Many natural compounds may be present largely as one specific
geometrical
isomer or enantiomeric isomer. Again it is not uncommon to find that certain natural
compounds may occur on two, four or more isomers. Synthetic compounds are often racemic (i.e. a 50-50
mix of enantiomeric isomers) or have differing isomeric distributions. It is not proven in the scientific
literature that these different isomeric forms have the same allergenicity. One form may for example be
devoid of any allergenic effects.

Has the SCCNFP taken these points into account when reaching its conclusions?

(1) OJ L 262, 27.9.1976, p. 169.
(2) OJ C 28 E, 6.2.2003, p. 190.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(31 October 2002)

The opinion of the Scientific Committee on Cosmetic Products and Non-Food Products intended for
consumers (SCCNFP) of 8 December 1999 concerning the fragrance allergy in consumers is based on and
supported by an extensive number of studies, published in leading scientific journals. None of these studies
indicate a difference in allergenicity between a fragrance ingredient synthetically produced or extracted
from a natural product. An important problem with fragrance substances of ‘natural origin’ is the difficulty
of quality control. There may be considerable variation in the content of toxic/sensitising chemicals;
oakmoss is an example. There is no demonstration in the peer reviewed scientific literature that fragrances
compounds of natural origin are ‘safer’ than synthetic ones.

The Commission is aware that oxidation products and isomers may affect the allergenic potential of certain
fragrance ingredients, both of synthetic and natural origin.

The issue of oxidation products and, as relevant, of isomers has been considered by the SCCNFP, e.g. d-
limonene and its ability to form allergenic oxidation products. No restriction has been proposed on its
other isomers, namely l- and dl-limonene.

Also, the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) recommends that d-, l- and dl-limonene and natural
products containing amounts of it, should only be used when the level of peroxides is kept to the lowest
practical level, for instance by adding anti-oxidants at the time of production.

(2003/C 92 E/281)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2963/02

by Christa Klaß (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(15 October 2002)

Subject: Financial participation by the EU in BSE monitoring programmes

It is said that the EU’s planned financial contribution for Germany in 2002 (EUR 21 077 000) will not be
sufficient. Rhineland-Palatinate has become the first Land to cease to subsidise BSE tests on animals aged
over 30 months. Is the EU aware of any other countries which have ceased to provide subsidies or intend
to do so, or how could the Member State have ensured that the EU’s participation was sufficient for the
year in question?

In Germany, BSE tests are also carried out on animals which have died, and animals aged under 24
months are tested. Will the EU make more funds available to Germany in view of the fact that the
numbers of animals slaughtered have risen and are large, or is it possible for subsidies to be transferred
from Member States which are perhaps not exhausting the funds allocated to them?

Why does the EU intend to reduce its participation from EUR 15 to EUR 10 in 2003?

17.4.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 92 E/223

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(12 November 2002)

to
The rules for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) monitoring are laid down in Annex III
Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 of the Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 laying down rules for
the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (1), as last
amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1494/2002 of 21 August 2002 (2). According to these rules,
all bovine animals above 30 months of age slaughtered for human consumption must be tested for BSE.
All bovine animals above 24 months of age which have died on the farm, have been sent for emergency
slaughter or have been found sick when sent for normal slaughter must also be tested for BSE.

Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 does not include provisions on the financing of the BSE monitoring
programme. In principle the tests could be funded by the sector itself or by public means. Council
Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June 1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field (3), as last amended by
Council Decision 2001/572/EC of 23 July 2001 (4), provides for the possibility of a Community
contribution, within the limits of the appropriate budget line. Since 2001 the Community has contributed
to the costs of the BSE monitoring programmes in the Member States, but each year the contribution is
limited to a maximum amount established when the programmes are approved.

In some Member States the projections indicate that they will not spend the total amount allocated to
them for BSE monitoring in 2002. The Commission intends to bring forward a proposal transferring
money from these Member States to Member States where the projections indicate that the original
allocation will not suffice. It is, however, unlikely that this will allow the Commission to co-finance all
eligible tests at the maximum rate, as the projections indicate that there is a total deficit of EUE 10-
20 million in the budget line.

The financial contribution from the Community can only be used to reimburse costs arising from the
compulsory monitoring programme laid down in Regulation (EC) No 999/2001. Hence, monitoring of
healthy slaughtered animals below 30 months of age or dead-on-farm animals below 24 months of age
will not be reimbursed.

In 2002, BSE tests are being co-financed at a maximum amount of EUR 15 per test. In 2003 the maximum
amount will be EUR 10,5 per test. The amount has been decreased because the average cost per test is
lower than originally estimated, around EUR 18 per test (weighted average cost in 2001), and decreasing.

(1) OJ L 147, 31.5.2001.
(2) OJ L 225, 22.8.2002.
(3) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990.
(4) OJ L 203, 28.7.2001.

(2003/C 92 E/282)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2971/02

by Christa Prets (PSE) to the Commission

(22 October 2002)

Subject: Directorate-General for Employment and Social Policy

At 18.00 on 12 September 2002 the Austria Press Agency (APA) published an urgent press release entitled
‘EU severely criticises Austria’s employment policy’. In it the APA refers to the annual Commission audit
report concerning the national action plans, which had been provided to the APA on an exclusive basis.
On 13 September 2002 I wanted further details and our office made enquiries with the appropriate
Commission department but obtained no information, on the grounds that ‘the report will not be
published until November’. Why is Commission information made available to MEPs after the press?