WRITTEN QUESTION E-2500/03 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission. Beef exports.
Date: 2003-07-25
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: beef, common commercial policy, export (EU), import restriction, third country

C 88 E/416

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-2486/03, E-2487/03 and E-2543/03
given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(22 August 2003)

The Commission is concerned about the problem of increased violations of religious freedom in Southern
Caucasus and in Central Asia. It is fully aware of the situation of Adventists and members of the Asia
Protestant Church of Muslim and Russian Orthodox communities in Turkmenistan and of Jehovah’s
Witnesses in Armenia.

As Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Georgia have Partnership and Cooperation Agreements (PCA)
with the Union, the Commission raises at each meeting in PCA framework the points concerning
violations of freedom of religion and more generally violations of basic human rights. Despite the fact that
the PCA with Turkmenistan is not yet ratified, the Commission raises also these points at each bilateral
meeting with the Turkmen authorities.

The Commission would like to reiterate that it attaches great importance to the rights of freedom of
religion, belief and expression. The Union has repeatedly affirmed that human rights and democratisation
must form an integral part of political dialogue with third countries. In its May 2001 Communication on
the Union’s role in the promotion of Democracy and Human Rights with third countries (1),
the
Commission is committed to mainstreaming human rights and democratisation issues in all Community
assistance programme.

In addition to its Tacis assistance, the Commission, under the European Initiative for Democracy and
Human Rights (EIDHR), funds a number of activities to support freedom of religion and democratisation
process in Southern Caucasus and in Central Asia.

(1) COM(2001) 252 final.

(2004/C 88 E/0423)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2500/03

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(25 July 2003)

Subject: Beef exports

Will the Commission list those countries still refusing to accept exports of beef from one or more EU
Member States, and will it state the grounds for such refusal? Which of those countries were a significant
market for EU beef exports in the past, and what measures is the Commission taking to reopen those
markets to EU exports? How many of those countries are members of the Commonwealth?

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(5 September 2003)

The Commission becomes involved when an import ban is brought to its attention by individual Member
States and/or Union industry.

The Commission would then assess the World Trade Organisation (WTO) compatibility of the Third
Country measure and if it is considered that there could be a possible violation of the Sanitary and
Phytosanitary Agreement of the WTO, the Commission would intervene with a range of possible actions.
This process would be carried out in consultation with the Member States.

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/417

At this point in time (August 2003), the Commission is aware of the following import bans on EU beef
from one or more Member States:

(cid:1) Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD): South Korea still has yet to lift its restriction imposed on the United
Kingdom as a result of the 2001 crisis. Korea informed the Commission that this will soon be lifted.

However, due to a previous Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) ban which remains in place,
United Kingdom beef would continue to be banned.

(cid:1) BSE: nearly all countries in the world have banned Union beef from one or more countries of the

Union and in particular from the United Kingdom.

In terms of markets, the bans in relation to BSE are of most relevance. Even where bans are not in
place, there are frequently additional restrictions (age of animal, herd of origin, etc.) going beyond the
protective measures in place in the Union in relation to BSE. These restrictions also limit the export
potential of Member States, especially in key former markets in North Africa and the Middle East.
However, taking into account the long history of restrictions in relation to BSE and intervening
developments (evolution of the world market in beef, etc.) it is difficult to identify the contribution of
BSE towards loss of market share.

The Commission is sending direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament’s Secretariat a table
containing figures for the total Union beef exports (meat and live animals) in tonnes carcase weight
equivalent for the most recent years (1999-2002).

It is worth noting that the Union beef market is at present relatively stable, with a balanced supply-
demand situation.

The Commission has frequently addressed the disproportionate BSE trade restriction regimes of third
countries during bilateral and multilateral contacts (cid:1) such as in the WTO/Sanitary and Phytosanitary
Committee (cid:1) with the relevant countries, insisting that import restrictions must be science-based and
comply with international standards. The Commission is also responsible for co-ordinating the position of
the Member States on proposed changes to the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) animal health
code,
including the BSE chapter. In this regard, Union efforts are directed towards ensuring that the
international standard is based on the latest scientific knowledge. This standard includes the scientifically
justifiable measures which importing countries should adopt in relation to the import of bovine animals
and products, and is aimed at enabling trade to take place in safe conditions. In addition, the Commission
is ensuring that the ten acceeding Member States will fully implement the ‘acquis communautaire’ in the
area of veterinary health and food safety, including BSE measures. This will open up new markets to beef
exports from all existing Member States as existing restrictions of the acceding Member States will be
required to be lifted to the extent they are not compatible with the relevant Community rules. Finally, in
its bilateral dealings with third countries, the Commission continues to press for recognition that the
existing series of protective measures is sufficient to allow for trade in beef and beef products to take place
from all Member States.

The Commission does not have any formal trading agreements with the Commonwealth. However, it is
reasonable to assume that most Commonwealth Countries maintain bans or restrictions on Union beef
exports in relation to BSE. The Commission is currently negotiating with New Zealand a range of measures
which would lead to the opening up of its markets to imports from the Union.

(2004/C 88 E/0424)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2507/03

by Paolo Bartolozzi (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 July 2003)

Subject: Charges in the tourist industry

The ever closer union of the peoples of the Member States must find expression in the free movement of
persons and goods in Union countries.