WRITTEN QUESTION E-2128/03 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Beverage which reduces blood alcohol levels — BOB information campaigns.
Date: 2003-06-25
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: alcoholism, beverage, public awareness campaign, road safety, transport accident, transport policy

C 58 E/134

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.3.2004

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(1 August 2003)

Article 11 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 on support for rural development from the European
Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and amending and repealing certain Regulations (1)
provides that, to be eligible for early retirement, the transferor of a farm must stop all commercial farming
activity completely. The transferee of the farm must succeed the transferor as the head of the agricultural
holding or take over all or part of the land released.

The procedure for transferring rural tenancies is the responsibility of the Member States and is not
governed by the rural development Regulation nor by any other Community Regulation.

It is true that the national legislation to which the Honourable Member refers (Portaria No 99/2001 of
16 January 2001) requires the rural lease to be cancelled, but it gives the owner of the land the option of
signing a new lease with the original tenant’s descendants.

(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.

(2004/C 58 E/150)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2128/03

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(25 June 2003)

Subject: Beverage which reduces blood alcohol levels (cid:1) BOB information campaigns

In its communication IP/02/1762,
is spending EUR 1,1 million on
the Commission states that
campaigns against drinking and driving in seven EU Member States. It acknowledges that, of the 40 000
people killed on Europe’s roads each year, one third are victims of drinking and driving. In order to do
something about this, the Commission is subsidising the ‘Euro-BOB’ campaign in a number of EU Member
States.

it

A beverage has recently come onto the market which is called Outox, produced by Lifestyle Drinks NV,
and which, it is claimed, can very quickly reduce the level of alcohol in the blood and will also render the
next day’s hangover less severe. The impression is given, at the very least, that drivers can drink alcohol to
excess and yet, after drinking Outox, again become ‘sober’ enough to drive a vehicle. Flemish researchers
consider it very doubtful that Outox can have this effect.

Is the Commission aware of the existence of Outox, and has it had any checks carried out as to whether
this beverage really does reduce blood alcohol levels?

In the light of the BOB campaigns, does the Commission consider it appropriate to place beverages on the
market which reduce blood alcohol levels? If not, what will it do to protect consumers/drivers?

Are the BOB campaigns in various Member States having the desired effect of reducing the number of
people killed or injured on the roads specifically as a result of alcohol consumption?

What additional efforts will the Commission make to further reduce the number of people killed or injured
on the roads due to excessive consumption of alcohol?

Answer given by Ms de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(9 September 2003)

The Commission does not have any information on the drink mentioned by the Honourable Member. In
any event, it is the responsibility of the Member State in which the product is being advertised to check
the accuracy of the information provided by the supplier. This is especially important in this case, as
alcohol-related road accidents are a serious public health problem requiring special attention from the
authorities because of the suffering they cause.

6.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 58 E/135

On 27 May 2003 the Commission held a seminar to assess the effectiveness of the ‘Designated driver’
campaigns, such as the BOB campaign in Belgium. Summaries of the presentations made at the seminar
can
(http://europa.eu.int/comm/transport/road/roadsafety/behaviour/alcohol/conf_desig-
at
nated_drivers_en.htm).

found

be

In order to work, the campaigns must be supported by the police and promoted by players on the ground
such as bars, petrol stations, etc. There can be a sharp drop in the number of alcohol-related accidents
during this type of campaign.

The number of accidents caused by excessive alcohol consumption is falling in the EU. In order to reduce
the figure further, and in line with its recommendation of 17 January 2001 on the maximum permitted
blood alcohol content for drivers of motorised vehicles, the Commission has taken action on several fronts:
increasing and improving roadside checks, driver training,
research (for example into the use of
immobilisers where a driver’s BAC level is too high), the rehabilitation of habitual offenders and support
for awareness-raising campaigns.

(2004/C 58 E/151)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2132/03

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(26 June 2003)

Subject: Industrial crops

1. Will the Commission reconsider its proposal to disallow the growing of industrial and energy crops
on set-aside land?

2. Will it detail new techniques which would enable it to be reassured that land so used cannot be
brought into the production of food enjoying any CAP subsidy?

Does the Commission agree that the decoupling of production and income support should in

3.
principle remove the need for any restrictions on the use of land such as set-aside?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(4 August 2003)

During the debates on these questions, the Member of the Commission responsible for Agriculture and
Fisheries indicated to the Council on Agriculture and Fisheries of 8 April 2003 the Commission’s
willingness to examine the possibility to return to rotational set-aside and growing crops intended for non-
food use insofar as control problems are settled. The final political compromise adopted by the Council on
26 June 2003 confirms the continuation of the non-food set-aside system, as a consequence the growing
of industrial and energy crops in set-aside land will be possible.

The set-aside land used for industrial and energy crops will continue to receive the Common Agricultural
Policy (CAP) subsidy. The current controls applied on the non-food set-aside system avoid,
in the
Commission’s opinion, the risk of fraud. The Commission does, however, intend to simplify the current
control system when implementing the reform.

The set-aside was created as a market regulation instrument, therefore the production of renewable raw
materials is not its principal aim. The decoupling of production and income support does not change with
respect to this first objective. Any restrictions on the use of set-aside land will continue to apply.