WRITTEN QUESTION E-0173/03 by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Mincemeat and lemon curd.
Date: 2003-01-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU law, United Kingdom, fruit product, labelling, product designation

18.9.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 222 E/157

(2003/C 222 E/181)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0171/03

by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Export of calves from Poland to the European Union

(29 January 2003)

How many (i) calves aged 6 months or less and (ii) adult cattle were exported from Poland to (a) Italy and
(b) other European Member States in (i) 2000 and (ii) 2001?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(20 February 2003)

Official statistics do not allow differentiating imports of calves by age. However, it is possible to split
imports by weight classes.

In 2001, 239 341 bovine animals have been exported from Poland to Italy, (cid:1) 12 % compared to the level
of 2000 (271 617 heads). More than 80 % of these cattle concern calves weighting less than 80 kilograms
(kg), which in general are not exported for immediate slaughter (221 249 calves in 2000 and 193 615
calves in 2001).

Poland exported to Italy 41 720 adult cattle in 2000 and 32 739 adult cattle in 2001, which represent
13,7 % of total cattle imported by Italy from Poland.

Overall, the Community imported from Poland 329 937 cattle in 2000 and 278 961 cattle in 2001.
Imports of calves of less than 80 kg amounted to 258 937 animals in 2000 and 217 573 animals in 2001.

Live bovine animals (heads)

(cid:1) of which 0-80 kg

(cid:1) of which 81-160 kg

(cid:1) of which more than 160 kg

Polish exports to:

Italy

Community

2000

2001

2000

2001

271 617

221 249

8 648

41 720

239 341

193 615

12 987

32 739

329 937

258 937

18 557

52 443

278 961

217 573

22 172

39 216

(2003/C 222 E/182)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0173/03

by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 January 2003)

Subject: Mincemeat and lemon curd

1.
Recent newspaper reports have suggested that the European Commission is attempting to ban the
terms ‘lemon curd’ and ‘mincemeat’ appearing on labels; can the Commission confirm whether this is true?

If true, why does the Commission feel the need to change the labelling of these products? And what

2.
names would the Commission like to substitute?

3.

If not true, can the Commission give an assurance that these products will remain unaffected?

C 222 E/158

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

18.9.2003

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(5 March 2003)

Within the national legislation of the United Kingdom, lemon curd and mincemeat are defined as follows:

(cid:1) Lemon curd is a product made, mainly, from an emulsion of edible fats or other oils (or both), sugar,

whole egg or egg yolk (or both), and any combination of lemon puree, lemon pulp or lemon;

(cid:1) Mincemeat is a product made mainly from a sweetening agent, vine fruits, citrus peel, sugar or any
other carbohydrate, suet or equivalent fat and vinegar or acetic acid with or without other ingredients.

The use of the terms ‘lemon curd’ and ‘mincemeat’
is not prohibited by Community legislation. The
Commission has no plans to introduce legislation to ban the use of these terms for the products in
question.

(2003/C 222 E/183)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0174/03

by Isidoro Sánchez García (ELDR) to the Council

(30 January 2003)

Subject: Crisis in Venezuela

Venezuela is situated on the north coast of South America, forms part of the Andean Pact group of
countries, is rich in natural resources, chiefly oil, has had a broad tradition of democracy since the mid-
twentieth century, has been generous throughout recent history and has, as a result, welcomed many
citizens who have come in search of a better world, and whose efforts have contributed to the country’s
prosperity. In 2002, however,
it was shaken by two events which were unprecedented in Venezuela’s
history and which adversely affected the country’s institutional, political, economic and social govern-
ability. First of all, a mini-coup d’état took place on 11 April 2002 aimed at toppling President Hugo
Chávez, who had been elected in 1998 in accordance with the Venezuelan Constitution. Secondly, a civil
strike called at the beginning of December 2002 has caused serious disruption to Venezuela’s civil society.
Observing events from the outside in the first weeks of 2003,
it appears that the situation remains
unchanged and the crisis is reaching a peak, posing a serious risk of a breakdown in institutional stability
and industrial relations.

Faced with this scenario of social and political confrontation, the parties are approaching the international
community in search of support for a negotiated democratic solution. In these circumstances the European
Union cannot simply stand aside, since in addition to the fact that democratic solidarity requires a
response to the grave problem facing Venezuela, it must also take into account the fact that hundreds of
thousands of nationals of EU Member States live in the country.

Given this extreme crisis affecting Venezuela, what measures will the Council take,
in the context of
respect for its sovereignty and independence and in accordance with Article 21 of the EU Treaty, to help
bring about a democratic solution to the crisis in Venezuela and thereby avoid the grave threats posed by
institutional instability and the breakdown of industrial relations in the country?

Reply

(8 May 2003)

1.
As already indicated in the answer given to oral questions H-0880/02 and H-0016/03, the EU has
regularly monitored the situation in Venezuela and clearly stated its position in public as well as with
partners and authorities involved in finding a negotiated peaceful and constitutional solution to the
political crisis in the country. (see declarations made by the Presidencies on 12 April and 10 October, the
Heads of Mission on 8 December and the High Representative on 19 December)