WRITTEN QUESTION E-1154/03 by Karl-Heinz Florenz (PPE-DE), Willi Görlach (PSE),Friedrich-Wilhelm Graefe zu Baringdorf (Verts/ALE), Christa Klaß (PPE-DE)and Dagmar Roth-Behrendt (PSE) to the Commission. Regulation (EC) 1774/2002, use of waste food and products of the foodstuffs industry in the EU Member States.
Date: 2003-04-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: agricultural waste, animal nutrition, animal product, application of EU law, by-product, egg product, interpretation of the law, veterinary legislation, waste recycling

7.11.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 268 E/177

in 1996 the Euromosaic study which provides information on the number of speakers and the use of
languages in various domains in 12 Member States including Greece. One of the main objectives of this
study was to assess the socio-linguistic vitality of a language, that is whether the language or linguistic
community is in a state of decline, revival or stability. Information on Euromosaic can be found on: http://
europa.eu.int/comm/education/langmin/euromosaic_fr.html

Respect for diversity is one of the founding principles of the Union. Article 151 of the EC Treaty gives the
European Community the task of contributing to the flowering of the cultures of Member States, while
respecting their national and regional diversity. It also commits the Community to taking cultural aspects
into account in all its actions.

(2003/C 268 E/201)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1154/03

by Karl-Heinz Florenz (PPE-DE), Willi Görlach (PSE),
Friedrich-Wilhelm Graefe zu Baringdorf (Verts/ALE), Christa Klaß (PPE-DE)
and Dagmar Roth-Behrendt (PSE) to the Commission

(1 April 2003)

Subject: Regulation (EC) 1774/2002, use of waste food and products of the foodstuffs industry in the EU

Member States

Regulation (EC) 1774/2002 (1) of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 October 2002 laying
down health rules concerning animal by-products not intended for human consumption does not state
that the collection of waste food shall be compulsory, nor does it specify how this collection should be
carried out.

Article 6(1)(f) of Regulation (EC) 1774/2002 defines products of the food industry as ‘Category 3 material’.
Logically this should imply a ban on feeding to animals long-life bakery goods (biscuits, preserved pastry
goods and cakes) made with animal products (e.g. eggs), or milk or dairy products of the same type.

Does the Commission have any information on whether, and if so how, food waste occurring in the
1.
EU is collected everywhere separately from other waste products, and harmlessly treated or disposed of? If
not, does not the Commission consider it sensible to order a study on this topic?

2.
Does the Commission possess any studies showing that the uses of waste food frequently cited as
alternatives to animal feed (cid:1) composting and treatment in bio-gas plants (cid:1) are practicable in the long
term and hygienic in epidemiological terms? If not, does not the Commission consider it sensible to order
a study on this topic?

Does the Commission consider that the feeding to animals of long-life bakery goods made with
3.
animal products (e.g. eggs), and milk and dairy products of the same type, is prohibited? What products of
animal origin, and mixed products containing animal products, may still be used in animal feed since the
entry into force of the above-mentioned directive?

(1) OJ L 273, 10.10.2002, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(16 May 2003)

Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 establishes how the collection, transport and identification of all animal
‘Catering waste’ is defined in Annex I as
by-products (except category 3 catering waste) shall be done.
waste food originating in restaurants, catering facilities and kitchens,
including central kitchens and
household kitchens. Therefore, the Commission considers that ‘catering waste’ is waste from premises on
which food is produced for direct consumption, excluding ‘former foodstuffs’, referred to in Article 6(1)(f)
from retail outlets such as supermarkets or food factories producing products for retail sale.

C 268 E/178

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

7.11.2003

The scope of Article 6(1)(f) covers former foodstuffs of animal origin, other than catering waste, which are
no longer intended for human consumption for commercial reasons or due to problems of manufacturing
or packaging defects or other defects which do not present any risk to humans or animals. Therefore, the
Commission considers that the scope of that Article is not intended to cover for instance, bakery products
(such as waste bread, cakes, pastry, biscuits), pasta, chocolate, sweet and similar products which do not
contain and have not been in contact with animal carcases, parts of animal carcases or products of animal
origin (other than, for instance, rennet or melted fat, milk or egg which have been incorporated into
another those products but which do not constitute the main characteristic ingredient, and which do not
contain fresh meat, meat products or meat preparations). Consequently, the processing, use and disposal of
these bakery products is outside the scope of the Regulation.

Discussion with experts from Member States in the framework of the Standing Committee on the Food
Chain and Animal Health has revealed that there are varying ways of collection, uses and disposal of
former foodstuffs, ranging from transformation into feeds, composting and treatment in biogas plants to
landfill, depending on local circumstances.

The Commission does not intend at present to carry out a specific study on the collection and treatment of
former foodstuffs, but will produce a report on the basis of information expected from Member States on
general compliance with the Regulation towards the end of the year 2003. If appropriate, such a report
will be accompanied by legislative proposals.

Furthermore, in the context of the adoption of the implementing and transitional measures for Regulation
(EC) No 1774/2002, the Commission has undertaken to present a proposal to clarify the scope of
Article 6(1)(f) to the next meeting of the SCoFCAH, and proposed to grant to Member States a limited
derogation (subject to a number of conditions), until 31 December 2004, in relation to the composting
and treatment in biogas plants of Category 3 materials. As former foodstuff containing products of animal
origin is a Category 3 material, this derogation will allow Member States to continue to use national rules
for the composting and treatment in a biogas plant of former foodstuff.

(2003/C 268 E/202)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1183/03

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(1 April 2003)

Subject: Shifting traffic flows in air transport as a result of subsidised cooperation between regional airports

and new entrants to the market

1.
Does the Commission recall that, over the past few decades, large airports were built 10 to 40 km
from large cities, easily accessible by a direct connection to the rail network from the city and its sphere of
influence within a radius of several hundred km?

2.
Is the Commission aware that new airlines are mostly creating connections between airports at
former military bases, or near smaller cities, leading to a shift in international passenger flows away from
central airports sited near large conurbations and railway stations towards places which are completely
dependent on road transport to and from the airport, just as airports used to be in the old days.

3.
Is the Commission aware that there is increased cooperation between formerly unimportant regional
airports and new airlines, with each becoming dependent on the other, because the airports are looking for
new customers and the new entrants to the airline market want to keep their costs down?