WRITTEN QUESTION E-3005/03 by Albert Maat (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Classification of albumin.
Date: 2003-10-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Combined Nomenclature, World Trade Organisation, agricultural product, egg, egg product, export policy, export refund, tariff policy

20.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 70 E/191

Assembly. The reference to the respect for Human Rights and democratic principles in the EC-Vietnam
Cooperation Agreement enables the Commission to address human rights issues in its bilateral contacts
with the Government of Vietnam.

It is also noteworthy that the Vietnamese Government has stated its interest in extending an invitation to a
delegation from the Parliament to visit the country soon, which might provide the Parliament with an
opportunity to assess the situation at first hand itself.

(2004/C 70 E/201)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3005/03

by Albert Maat (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 October 2003)

Subject: Classification of albumin

At present in the EU albumin from hens’ eggs is classified in the ‘non-Annex I’ product group (CN 3502/
1190/1990/2091/2099). This has given rise to the following anomalous situation: when an egg is
separated, the yolk remains an agricultural product, but the albumin is classified as an industrial product.
Although albumin was used for industrial purposes in the past, the situation has now changed completely
and it is used in the food sector.

This inappropriate classification is placing egg producers who export albumin at a serious disadvantage,
given that they are forfeiting substantial volumes of export refunds.

Can the Commission state how and when it intends to deal with this ‘anomaly’, which has a serious
adverse impact on European egg producers?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(11 December 2003)

The Honourable Member is referred to the Commission’s answers to Written Questions P-2696/03 (1) and
P-2976/03 from Mr Kindermann (2).

(1) See page 129.
(2) See page 182.

(2004/C 70 E/202)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3007/03

by Giacomo Santini (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 October 2003)

Subject: Role of the European Rural Carrefours in CAP information campaigns

The ‘Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of
Council Regulation (EC) No 814/2000 on information measures relating to the common agricultural
policy’ (1) expresses satisfaction at the results achieved by the information campaigns conducted in 2000,
2001 and 2002, but also stresses that their impact on the public and their cost-effectiveness could be
improved. The Commission states, on the basis of data obtained from ‘flash’ Eurobarometers, that the
general public’s lack of knowledge about the CAP, WTO, food safety and other issues linked to agricultural
policy confirms more than ever the need to step up information measures and improve their impact.

For some years now the European network of Rural Carrefours has been playing a role in informing the
public about the common agricultural policy, thanks to the existence of about 140 European rural
information and promotion centres supplied with publications, newsletters and websites and staffed by