WRITTEN QUESTION E-1989/03 by Maurizio Turco (NI)and Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Application of the milk quota system in the Italian Republic.
Date: 2003-06-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Anti-fraud Office, Italy, agricultural quota, dairy production, fraud against the EU

6.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 58 E/119

(2004/C 58 E/135)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1989/03

by Maurizio Turco (NI)
and Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(16 June 2003)

Subject: Application of the milk quota system in the Italian Republic

As a result of the application of the milk quota system in the Italian Republic, an additional levy of over
EUR 1 000 million was due in the period 1995-2001.

The Italian government has submitted draft reforms to the relevant parliamentary committees, including
the possible cancellation of fines incurred by producers in that period and a new system for applying
levies.

Reliable estimates put the amount of what is known as ‘black milk’ at 20 % of total production, with
fraudulent practices continuing to occur, such as the non-registered import of milk from abroad and the
re-use of powdered milk intended for use as feed.

The L1 forms for the 2001/2002 season, submitted to the Agricultural Delivery Agency (AGEA) by milk
buyers and signed by around 60 000 producers, show that:

(a) 5 953 farms claim to have produced milk whilst claiming not to have any cattle or failing to declare
how many; total production attributable to these ‘producers’ comes to over 1,6 million tonnes;

(b) 2 527 farms declare over 12 000 kg of production per head per annum, which is clearly incompatible
with the animals’ potential; this amounts to declared production per head of 284 744 kg per annum;

(c) 157 farms declare a fat content for delivered milk of less than 2,80 %, a level below which the product

can no longer be called ‘milk’;

(d) a very large number of buyers have bought milk from different producers with an identical fat
content, and with the quantity of milk delivered being identical to the quantity corrected, suggesting
that the chemical and microbiological analyses required under current legislation had not in fact taken
place (or that the milk was not from these sources), with predictable consequences on the health and
hygiene situation.

Any monitoring of these serious ‘anomalies’ has been rendered slower and more difficult by the chaotic
state of the national cattle registry, the principle means of monitoring commercial stock and cattle
movements.

Can the Commission state whether it is aware of these serious anomalies, whether it intends to take steps
to safeguard the Community budget and consumer health, and if so, what such steps would be?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(8 August 2003)

The Commission closely monitors operation of the milk quota system in Italy, where the main problem
remains collection of the levy from producers. It knows about the seeming anomalies indicated by the
Honourable Members and that is why in 2002 the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
launched an
investigation into a number of specific irregularity cases. As this has not yet been completed OLAF’s
findings are not yet known.

Moreover under Council Decision 2003/530/EC of 16 July 2003 approving an Italian Government aid
scheme, Italy will have to pay the Community the full volume of debt to be recovered for the 1995/1996
to 2001/2002 levy periods.