WRITTEN QUESTION E-0136/04 by Jillian Evans (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. GM food and crop imports.
Date: 2004-01-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Food and Veterinary Office, application of EU law, food inspection, food safety, genetically modified organism, import (EU), labelling, surveillance concerning imports

C 84 E/314

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

dependent workers, acquiring 100 % of the Rome central dairy on their behalf and for example, financing
operations with a leveraged buyout, as there is still the possibility of wide margins for the said holding.

Does the Commission consider possible the setting up of a new Newco tesa to safeguard the jobs in

1.
danger?

2. What financial instruments other than rent and leveraged buyout are available?

(1) OJ C 345, 15.11.1996, p. 102.
(2) OJ C 373, 9.12.1997, p. 60.
(3) OJ C 158, 25.5.1998, p. 103.
(4) OJ C 310, 9.10.1998, p. 84.
(5) OJ C 13, 18.1.1999, p. 39.
(6) OJ C 289, 11.10.1999, p. 9.
(7) OJ C 348, 3.12.1999, p. 102.
(8) OJ C 203 E, 18.7.2000, p. 129.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(12 February 2004)

On 11 April 2000 the Commission adopted Decision 2000/628/EC on the aid granted by Italy to the
Azienda Comunale Centrale del Latte di Roma (1).

The Commission is not aware of a risk of closure of the Rome central dairy.

On the basis of the information available, the Commission is not in a position to reply to the questions
asked by the Honourable Member.

If a State Aid for the rescue and restructuring of a company in difficulty which operates in the milk
business is notified to the Commission under Article 88 of the EC Treaty, the Commission will evaluate it
in accordance with the rules applicable to these types of aids.

(1) Commission Decision 2000/628/EC of 11 April 2000 on the aid granted by Italy to Centrale del Latte di Roma,

OJ L 265, 19.10.2000.

(2004/C 84 E/0362)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0136/04

by Jillian Evans (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(26 January 2004)

Subject: GM food and crop imports

Now that there is some EU legislation on genetically modified organisms, including legislation on GM food
and crop imports, what is the Commission doing to ensure that the Member States are adequately
implementing these regulations?

In particular, is the Commission ensuring where there is potential for GM products from external sources
to enter the EU through the ports of Member States, that relevant bodies (cid:1) such as Customs and Excise in
the UK (cid:1) are being instructed to test food, food ingredients and animal feed or seeds at the point of
import, to see whether they contained banned GM ingredients or ingredients that should be labelled as
GM? And is the Commission ensuring that Member States are providing bodies (cid:1) such as Customs and
Excise in the UK (cid:1) with the necessary equipment to carry out such tests?

What steps would the Commission take should any GM products enter the EU through negligence at the
point of import?

3.4.2004

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/315

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(29 March 2004)

The authorisation and labelling requirements in Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 (1) will be enforced and
controlled by Member States under the general provisions on controls of food and feed, as is the case in
respect of current legislation. Over the last few years, the Commission’s Food and Veterinary Office (FVO)
has carried out several inspections in order to evaluate the official control systems on GM food put in
place by Member States, in particular in respect of genetically modified (GM) labelling, and has found that
Member States’ implementation of control programmes in this area is reasonably satisfactory.

Whilst FVO evaluations of official controls should identify any systematic shortcomings, Member-States
remain responsible for operational tasks such as ensuring that relevant bodies are properly instructed and
equipped. Under Regulation (EC) No 1830/2003 (2), Member States shall ensure that inspections and other
control measures,
to ensure
compliance with this Regulation. In order to facilitate a coordinated approach of these controls and
inspections,
the Commission is in the process of developing and publishing technical guidance on
sampling and testing.

including sample checks and testing, as appropriate, are carried out

This guidance provides that official controls can be carried out at any stage of the production, processing,
storage, and distribution of GMOs (including seeds) or food and feed produced from GMOs, including at
the point of import. The Community Reference Laboratory established under Regulation (EC) No 1829/
2003 provides guidance and assistance on the methods of testing, as well as training for Member States
laboratories but does not supply testing equipment.

In case of infringement,
it is for the Member States to take the appropriate measures and apply the
necessary penalties, which must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive. Should a Member-State not take
the appropriate measures to implement the Community legislation, the Commission would be entitled to
take the necessary steps, in accordance with the Treaty.

(1) Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2003 on genetically modified

food and feed, OJ L 268, 18.10.2003.

(2) Regulation (EC) No 1830/2003 of the European and of the Council of 22 September 2003 concerning the
traceability and labelling of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and the traceability of food and feed products
produced from genetically modified organisms and amending Directive 2001/18/EC, OJ L 268, 18.10.2003.

(2004/C 84 E/0363)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0140/04

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(26 January 2004)

Subject: Media access in the Azores and Madeira outlying regions

As is well known, Article 299(2) of the TEU states that there shall be special measures and conditions of
support for the Union’s most remote regions. However, the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and
Madeira (Portugal) still suffer from problems relating to media access, notably to the national television
channels SIC, TVI and Canal A2.

Free-of-charge access to these national television channels, which now cover all of mainland Portugal with
no conditions attached, is not guaranteed in the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira. Their
broadcasts are not available on an open-signal basis, and this makes it impossible to receive SIC, TVI or
Canal A2 there.

Residents of those outlying regions cannot receive national television channels on the same basis as the
rest of the inhabitants of Portugal. A paid-for service (TV Cabo) is the only means they have of accessing a
service which is guaranteed free of charge on the mainland. In addition, the cable subscriptions are
considerably higher than those paid by mainland viewers for other limited-access channels.