WRITTEN QUESTION P-3336/02 by Arlindo Cunha (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Designation of origin of Manchego cheese.
Date: 2002-11-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Spain, TRIPS, World Trade Organisation, agricultural product, application of EU law, cheese, designation of origin, international negotiations, location of production

12.6.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 137 E/193

What was the exact amount of EU funding provided for the construction of these centres? Why are they
not yet operative? Does the Commission know how the funds earmarked for the construction of these
centres in Greece were actually spent? What penalties may, if appropriate, be imposed on Greece?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(7 January 2003)

Under the Interreg II Community Initiative (Cross-border cooperation strand) for the period 1994-1999
the European Regional Development Fund granted 70 % financing for the following cross-border public
health centres:

Location

Public expenditure

Community contribution

(EUR)

Prefecture of Ioannina
(Kalpaki, Konitsa)

Prefecture of Florina
(Kristalopigi)

Prefecture of Serres
(Promakhonas)

Prefecture of Evros
(Orestiada, Didimotikho)

Technical assistance

939 168

1 018 796

1 147 519

673 135

283 198

Total

4 061 816

657 418

713 157

803 263

471 194

198 239

2 843 271

Our information from the national authorities is that the projects have been completed, i.e. the physical
constructions included in the Community programme have been deemed suitable for their purpose and
taken over and will come into operation when the necessary steps have been taken on (recruitment is in
progress).

Greece has not yet asked the Commission for financial closure of the programme. Under the Community
rules in force applications relating to the period 1994-99 must be made by 31 March 2003.

The Commission will at that time examine all the documentation required under the rules before the
programme is closed, including the final report, and decide case by case what action to take.

(2003/C 137 E/218)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3336/02

by Arlindo Cunha (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 November 2002)

Subject: Designation of origin of Manchego cheese

A meeting recently held in Strasbourg with the European Geographical Indications Club highlighted two
main problems affecting the designation of Manchego cheese from Spain. Firstly, there are various
imitation products on the EU market, in particular a Belgian cheese which uses the name. Furthermore,
the designation of origin cannot be registered in the United States because of opposition from a firm in
California called ‘Cacique’, which markets its own cheese under the same name.

In this context can the Commission say:

(cid:1) whether it knows about the imitation Manchego cheeses on the EU market and what steps have been

taken to ensure compliance with European legislation on the subject;

C 137 E/194

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

12.6.2003

(cid:1) whether it has taken or plans to take any action vis-à-vis the United States to enable the designation of

origin of Manchego cheese to be registered in that country;

(cid:1) whether it will warn against problems of this kind (cid:1) which affect a variety of European products (cid:1)

in the position it is about to submit in the context of the WTO negotiations?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(20 December 2002)

The Commission has no information on the existence of various imitations on the Community market,
in particular in Belgium, of the protected designation of origin cheese Queso Manchego.

The name Queso Manchego (PDO) registered at Community level since 1996 (1) enjoys on the Community
market the protection specified in Article 13 of Regulation 2081/92 (2) Under Article 10 of the Regulation
the inspection structures set up by the Member States for the purposes of its application ensure that
agricultural products and foodstuffs bearing a protected name meet the requirements given in their
specifications. Consequently any product bearing the name ‘Queso Manchego’ PDO on the Community
market must comply with the specification registered for that product, i.e. only complying products can
carry the name in question.

The Commission knows in a general way of
imitations and misappropriations in regard to Queso
Manchego and other designations of origin and geographical indications protected at Community level on
the international market.

It is for this reason that in WTO negotiations the Commission has made great efforts to forestall this type
of problem at international level. First of all, by negotiation in the Council for Trade-Related Aspects of
Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) of a proposal it presented along with 20 other WTO members for
extending protection to products other than wines and spirits, and subsequently by its manifest wish that
geographical indications be brought within the framework of the Agreement on Agriculture and, more
concretely, be included in market access negotiations in connection with that agreement featuring on the
post-Doha Agenda.

In the case of the problem that the Honourable Member raises over registration in the United States of
Queso Manchego as a designation of origin, the Commission has no detailed knowledge of the situation
and so cannot express any opinion.

(1) OJ L 148, 21.6.1996.
(2) Council Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 of 14 July 1992 on protection of geographical indications and designations

of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs, OJ L 208, 24.7.1992.

(2003/C 137 E/219)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3354/02

by Albert Maat (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 November 2002)

Subject: Infant botulism syndrome

Recently, a Dutch two-month old baby died from infant botulism syndrome. This is an infectious
neuroparalytic disease resulting from the ingestion of spores of clostridium botulinum, which germinate,
multiply and produce botunal toxin within the infant’s large intestine. Epidemiological studies have
implicated honey, and, to a lesser extent, corn syrup as factors. It is recommended that honey and corn
syrup not be fed to infants less than one year old to prevent the occurrence of infant botulism. The general
public, however, does not seem to be aware of this.