WRITTEN QUESTION E-0455/03 by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission. Food allergies and restaurant ingredients.
Date: 2003-02-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: allergy, catering industry, consumer information, consumer protection, food safety, labelling

C 268 E/102

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

7.11.2003

which lays down that any plan or project not directly connected with or necessary to the management of a
Site of Community Importance, but
to
appropriate assessment of its implications for such sites?

likely to have a significant effect

thereon, shall be subject

(1) Boletin Ofifical del Estado (BOE) of 23 January 2002.
(2) Declared a Biosphere Reserve of a land surface of 847 km2 and a maritime area of 387 km2 under the Unesco MAB

(3)

programme on 7 October 1993.
In Lanzarote: bird protection areas on the islands of Lanzarote and Risco de Famara; an orthinologically important
area of Llanos de la Corona-laas Honduras; and the Sites of Community Importance Archipiélago Chinijo
(ES010045), Los Islotes (ES010044), Sebadales de la Graciosa (ES7010020), La Corona (ES010047), Los Jameos
(ES010054), Sebadales de Gauasimeta (ES7010021) and Cagafrecho (ES7011002) and in Fuerteventura: Bird
Protection Areas of Isla de Lobos, Jable de Corralejo, Macizo de Pozo Negro-Vigán, Playa de Sotavento and
Península de Jandía;; and the Sites of Community Importance of Islote de Lobos (ES010031), Corralejo (ES010032),
Sebadales de Corralejo (ES010022), Pozo Negro (ES0000096) y Playa de Sotavento de Jandía (ES010035).

(4) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997, p. 5.
(5) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(28 March 2003)

the Honourable Members question the Commission on the possible failure of

Firstly,
the Spanish
authorities to apply Directive 85/337/EEC (1), as amended by Directive 97/11/EC (2), properly in relation to
the granting of oil prospecting permits for
the coast of Lanzarote and
the Atlantic Ocean off
Fuerteventura.
It should be pointed out first of all that the abovementioned Directive applies to the
projects listed in Annexes I and II. Oil prospecting is not listed in those annexes and, as a consequence,
Directive 85/337/EEC, as amended by Directive 97/11/EC, does not appear to apply in the case in
question.

As regards the application of Directive 92/43/EEC (3) in the case under consideration, the Commission, in
its role of guardian of the treaties, will contact the Spanish authorities as soon as possible to ensure
compliance with the obligations under that Directive regarding the protection of habitats and species.

(1) Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private

projects on the environment, OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.

(2) Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997 amending Directive 85/337/EEC, OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.
(3) Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora,

OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(2003/C 268 E/103)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0455/03

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(19 February 2003)

Subject: Food allergies and restaurant ingredients

With reference to my previous question E-2809/2 (1) and the answer provided by Commissioner Byrne on
12 November 2002, I ask the Commission, who is the ultimate consumer of foodstuffs if it is not the
restaurant’s client, i.e. the person who eats the meal?

Could the Commission confirm the minimum size of print on food packaging with regard to ingredient
labelling?

(1) OJ C 52 E, 6.3.2003, p. 218.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(18 March 2003)

Further to the answer given to the Honourable Member’s Written Question E-2809/02, the Commission
would point out that Directive 2000/13/EC (1) lists the particulars which must be shown on the labelling of
foodstuffs intended for supply to end users, restaurants, hospitals, canteens and other similar mass caterers.

The labelling obligations therefore apply to foodstuffs purchased by restaurants for the preparation of
dishes, but not to the actual dishes served in these restaurants.

The Directive in question does not specify the minimum size of print to be used on food packaging with
regard to ingredient labelling, but Article 13 states that the particulars on labels must be marked in such a
way as to be easily visible, clearly legible and indelible.

(1) Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 March 2000 on the approximation of
the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs, OJ L 109,
6.5.2000.

(2003/C 268 E/104)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0458/03

by Bernd Lange (PSE) to the Commission

(19 February 2003)

Subject: Commission activities and cooperation relating to alternative fuels

Work is clearly being carried out in the various Commission departments in the field of alternative fuels,
which will undoubtedly be of great importance for their future development. It appears, for example, that
there is a high-level working group on hydrogen in DG Research, several working groups on alternative
fuels in DG Transport, as well as related activities in DG Environment.

1. What activities are being undertaken by the Commission’s various departments in the field of
alternative fuels?

2.

Are these activities coordinated at all and, if so, how is this being done?

3. What is the strategy behind these activities?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(14 April 2003)

Alternative fuels are part of a wider Commission policy aiming at security of energy supply and reduction
of greenhouse gas emissions. Energy efficiency and alternative fuels are considered as the two most
important pillars. The Commission has outlined its view on alternative fuels for road transportation in a
Communication (1), with the objective to attain a 20 % market share by 2020, as outlined in the Green
Paper on the security of energy supply (2) and the White Paper on a common transport policy (3). Proposals
on the promotion of biofuels (4) are presently in the interinstitutional process.

The activities on alternative fuels are well co-ordinated within the Commission. The services involved in
these activities are the Directorates General Energy and Transport, Research, Environment, Enterprise and
Taxation and Customs Union. All initiatives promoted by these various services are subject to interservice
consultations.