WRITTEN QUESTION P-0653/04 by Elisabeth Jeggle (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Question E-0760/03 — Operating conditions for incineration plants under Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002.
Date: 2004-03-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Food Safety Authority, animal fats, application of EU law, waste incineration

C 84 E/442

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(17 March 2004)

About sixty expert groups advise the Commission in the Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) sector and eleven
more are expected to be created in 2004. These groups consider and exchange information on issues
related to the practical application of Community legislation, discuss on an informal basis preliminary
drafts of legislative proposals or policy documents, bring together interested stakeholders to discuss new
approaches, or support the Commission in the development of Large Scale IT systems. The Parliament is
very often invited to the meetings, and the activities of many of these groups are reported to it.

These groups do not formulate or adopt any formal recommendations and no particular conclusions are
drawn up. Opinions expressed by experts in these groups are not to any extent binding upon the
Commission. However, the Commission takes into account the views or comments expressed by experts as
one source of input in the development of policies and in the preparation of legislative proposals or policy
documents.

(2004/C 84 E/0515)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0653/04

by Elisabeth Jeggle (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(2 March 2004)

Subject: Question E-0760/03 (cid:1) Operating conditions for incineration plants under Regulation (EC)

No 1774/2002

In its answer to the above question, the Commission stated that incineration processes not included under
Regulation (EC) 1774/2002 (1) would be allowed, provided they took into account the animal and human
health and environmental risks involved.

The Commission has since looked at several proposed amendments to Regulation (EC) 1774/2002 that
would allow alternative disposal processes. These specifically are Doc. SANCO/2153/2003 from June
2003, Doc. SANCO/2153/2003, Rev. 5, from September 2003 and Doc. SANCO/2153/2003 Rev. 7.

According to the latest revision, the rules on using animal fat in incineration are now to be removed from
Regulation (EC) 1774/2002 and the opinion of the European Food Safety Authority is awaited.

The constant changes by the Commission have meant that competent national authorities have now
withdrawn licences for certain disposal processes promised in advance to the operators of rendering plants,
resulting in considerable financial losses.

When can the European Food Safety Authority be expected to issue its opinion?

To what extent is this opinion binding on the Commission and when can a binding Commission decision
revising Regulation (EC) 1774/2002 be expected?

To what extent will the European Food Safety Authority and/or the Commission bring the processes into
line with the actual situation, that is by drawing on the proposals for revision in Doc. SANCO/2153/2003
from June 2003 and Doc. SANCO/2153/2003, Rev. 5, from September 2003, as well as the proposal in
Written Question E-0760/03 (2)?

Do the latest developments make it absolutely necessary for licences that were granted by national
authorities on the basis of previous Commission amendment proposals in favour of alternative processes
to be withdrawn?

(1) OJ L 273, 10.10.2002, p. 1.
(2) OJ C 222 E, 18.9.2003, p. 233.

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/443

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(1 April 2004)

The following reply is in addition to the Commission’s reply to the Honourable Member’s Written
Question E-0760/03.

The Scientific Steering Committee adopted an opinion at
its meeting of 10 and 11 April 2003,
recommending that the process of combustion of animal fats could be regarded as safe for animal fats
derived from Categories 2 and 3 materials under certain circumstances, but cannot be assessed, due to a
lack of information, for animal fats derived from Category 1 materials.

Following this opinion, further information on Category 1 materials has been made available for evaluation
by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

The draft proposal in preparation for the approval of alternative processes has been discussed extensively
with Member State experts and has been amended on the basis of these discussions. As such the different
revisions of the document quoted by the Honourable Member does not have any legally binding effect.

The Commission expects an opinion from EFSA on the alternative combustion process before the end of
2004. The scientific recommendations will constitute the basis for further discussions with Member States
and with the industry concerned. At this time it is not possible to predict the wording of the final text
approving the process.

(2004/C 84 E/0516)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0656/04

by John Bowis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 March 2004)

Subject: Mobile neutering units

Does the Commission recognise the value of mobile cat neutering units in the context of controlling
animal disease and the rise in the number of feral cats in Member States? Is the Commission aware of a
new law in Italy to ban the use of mobile neutering units for domestic cats?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(19 March 2004)

The neutering of cats, notably as a way to deal with the problems of feral animals or for other veterinary
reasons, is not a matter which falls within the scope of Community law.

It follows, therefore, that Member States have the exclusive competence to decide the conditions under
which such neutering may take place within their territories including the imposition of restrictions on the
use of mobile units.

(2004/C 84 E/0517)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0704/04

by Guido Sacconi (PSE) to the Commission

(4 March 2004)

Subject: Transport of poultry

EU citizens have repeatedly expressed concern for the conditions in which animals destined for slaughter
or further fattening are kept, and the EP itself has called several times for an overall time limit for transport
of eight hours or 500 km.