WRITTEN QUESTION P-1931/03 by Horst Schnellhardt (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Introduction of European food standards legislation in the accession countries.
Date: 2003-06-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community acquis, European standard, Hungary, Poland, accession to the European Union, agro-industry, food safety, food standard, transitional period (EU)

C 88 E/376

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

Moreover, if these maximum fat limits are exceeded, the meat content must be adjusted downwards and
the presence of fat must be indicated in the list ingredients.

Pursuant to Directive 2002/86/EC, the labelling of the products concerned must be in conformity with the
rules indicated above with effect from 1 July 2003.

(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.

(2) Commission Directive 2001/101/EC of 26 November 2001 amending Directive 2000/13/EC of the European

Parliament and of the Council, OJ L 310, 28.11.2001.

(3) Commission Directive 2002/86/EC of 6 November 2002 amending Directive 2001/101/EC as regards the date from
which trade in products not in conformity with Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the
Council is prohibited, OJ L 305, 7.11.2002.

(2004/C 88 E/0382)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1931/03

by Horst Schnellhardt (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(5 June 2003)

Subject: Introduction of European food standards legislation in the accession countries

According to press reports, serious problems have emerged with regard to the introduction of European
food standards legislation in undertakings in the accession countries.

Can the Commission answer the following:

1. How much weight should be given to those reports?

2. How many undertakings (expressed as a percentage of all undertakings)

in Poland and Hungary

applied for transitional periods?

3. What measures has the European Commission taken to ensure that undertakings in the food industry
cease production as from 1 May 2004 in the event of a failure to transpose hygiene legislation?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(30 June 2003)

The Commission is closely monitoring the food safety issues in the acceding Member States. By the day of
accession, all new Member States will have to apply the high level of European standards, as defined by the
‘acquis communautaire’.

In general terms, important progress has already been achieved in the Candidate Countries with regard to
food safety. There is no doubt that the accession to the Union will significantly improve the food safety
standards in these countries.

Through regular missions undertaken by the Commission’s Food and Veterinary Office, peer reviews and
other missions, complemented by various other monitoring tools such as Monitoring Tables and Tables of
Correspondance, the Commission follows closely the developments in the acceding Member States. Any
problem so far identified was communicated to the respective countries. Should any shortcoming arise in
the field of food safety by the day of accession, appropriate measures, which may include safeguard
measures, will be taken to protect consumers in the Union.

As regards agro-food establishments in Poland and Hungary, a limited number of transitional periods were
granted in the conclusion of the accession negotiations in December 2002. Such transitional periods were
granted to 370 meat establishments in Poland (including cold stores and fish processing plants). These

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represent 13 % of the total number of Polish meat establishments expected at the day of accession.
Transitional periods were also granted to 169 Polish milk establishments representing 51 % of the total
number of Polish milk establishments expected at accession. These transitional periods are valid for Poland
until 31 December 2007. In Hungary, 44 high capacity meat establishments have been granted transitional
periods, representing 7 % of the total number of Hungarian meat establishments. These transitional periods
for Hungary are valid until 31 December 2006.

During the transitional period, all products from establishments subject to such a transitional measure
must be specifically labelled and only marketed locally; consequently releasing into the Internal Market will
be prohibited.

Based on the Commission’s monitoring, agro-food establishments without a transitional period and not
complying with the Union food safety requirements by accession will need to be closed. In the meantime,
the Commission provides assistance in the upgrading of agro-food establishments by providing expertise
through Technical Assistance Information Exchange Office (TAIEX) and peer reviews, training activities
and through the Twinning programme. It furthermore provides significant financial support from PHARE
and Sapard.

(2004/C 88 E/0383)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1933/03

by Dana Scallon (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(5 June 2003)

Subject: Social development

The Commission proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on aid for
policies and actions on reproductive and sexual health and rights in developing countries (1) provides for
the funding of healthcare in developing countries. During the legislative procedure, it became clear that the
Commission intends to use the appropriations allocated to this programme to fund (cid:1) inter alia (cid:1) abortion
on demand.

The Community’s powers with regard to development policy, set out in Article 177(1) of the Treaty, uses
the term ‘social development’, which is open to interpretation. Articles 136 to 145 of the Treaty expand
the meaning of the term ‘development’ in social policy with regard to domestic policies. It is undisputed
that the Community has no power to rule on or to finance abortion within the Community. It would,
therefore, be inconsistent if the same legal term were to be interpreted differently. It therefore seems
appropriate, with regard to the first sentence of Article 5 of the Treaty, to interpret Article 177(1) of the
Treaty accordingly and not to authorise Community activities which are legally not possible within the
Community.

Does the Commission take the view that the term ‘social development’ referred to in Article 177(1) of the
Treaty provides a legal basis for activities facilitating abortion on demand?

(1) COM(2002) 120 final (cid:1) OJ C 151 E, 25.6.2002, p. 260 and COM(2003) 168 final.

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(30 June 2003)

The recently adopted Regulation on aid for policies and actions on reproductive and sexual health and
rights in developing countries (1) aims to fund innovative actions that will improve the reproductive and
sexual health of men and women in developing countries. The assertion of the Honourable Member that