WRITTEN QUESTION E-0709/03 by Marco Cappato (NI) to the Council. Census of coca producers in Peru and reclassification of coca leaf.
Date: 2003-03-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Peru, census, crop production, farmer, narcotic, statistical nomenclature

C 51 E/42

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

26.2.2004

(2001). However,

the Commission believes that confronting the complex and culturally
Parliament
entrenched beliefs that underlie FGM is an undertaking that must involve not only public repression, but
also education and public awareness in the country.

the Commission has already brought up the question of women’s rights with the
In this context
Government of Kenya including FGM issues. The Commission is also assisting civil society initiatives with
regard to women rights and women’s involvement in political decision making while supporting a specific
project focussing on FGM prevention in the Kisii district.

The Commission will continue in the future to support adequate measures to ensure progress on women’s
rights and the eradication of FGM practices. In particular, the Union is proposing to reinforce political
dialogue with the newly elected Kenyan Government focussing,
inter alia, on human rights including
gender issues. The Commission will also continue to bring up human rights issues, including gender issues,
in the appropriate forums, including in the context of the Community-dialogue with Non-State Actors
who monitor and enforce women’s rights.

For further details please refer to the Commission’s answer given to Written Question E-0519/03 by
Mrs Smet (2) regarding women’s rights in Kenya.

(1) OJ C 51 E, 26.2.2002.
(2) OJ C 33 E, 6.2.2004, p. 47.

(2004/C 51 E/042)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0709/03

by Marco Cappato (NI) to the Council

(10 March 2003)

Subject: Census of coca producers in Peru and reclassification of coca leaf

The first (and so far only) census of legal and authorised coca-leaf producers in Peru dates back to 1978
and the purchase of coca leaf (exclusively by the state-run ENACO) is now based perforce on arbitrary
criteria employed for the purpose of selecting the producers from whom coca leaf is bought for legal use.
Furthermore, the figures relating to the increase in the size of the areas set aside for coca-leaf cultivation
are contradictory.

The UN classifies coca leaf in the same category as cocaine and heroin, despite the fact that independent
studies and ones carried out by the World Health Organisation itself have demonstrated the medical and
nutritional properties of the product which, in the Andes, has an essential role to play in local culture,
tradition and religion.

In view of the above facts and the passage of 25 years, does the Council not think that it should call for
and assist the drawing up of a new register of authorised producers on the basis of public, transparent and
non-discriminatory criteria, not
the alternative-development projects to be
implemented in the areas concerned?

for the benefit of

least

Does the Council not consider that, at the Ministerial-level segment of the UN Commission on Narcotic
Drugs which is to be held in Vienna on 16/17 April 2003, it should propose the deletion of coca leaf
from Table I in order to enable a legal coca-leaf market to emerge and thus a sustainable agricultural
economy to develop in the Andean countries?

Reply

(29 September 2003)

The question raised by the Honourable Member has not been examined by the Council’s bodies.