CELEX: 51979PC0257
Language: en
Date: 1979-05-21
Title: PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) on exceptional food aid to the Republic of Malta in the form of pigmeat (submitted to the Council by the Commission)

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DE LA COMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEE DES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (79) 257
Vol. 1979/0100
 ---pagebreak--- Disclaimer
Conformément au règlement (CEE, Euratom) n° 354/83 du Conseil du 1er février 1983
concernant l'ouverture au public des archives historiques de la Communauté économique
européenne et de la Communauté européenne de l'énergie atomique (JO L 43 du 15.2.1983,
p. 1), tel que modifié par le règlement (CE, Euratom) n° 1700/2003 du 22 septembre 2003
(JO L 243 du 27.9.2003, p. 1), ce dossier est ouvert au public. Le cas échéant, les documents
classifiés présents dans ce dossier ont été déclassifiés conformément à l'article 5 dudit
règlement.
In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983
concerning the opening to the public of the historical archives of the European Economic
Community and the European Atomic Energy Community (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1), as
amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1700/2003 of 22 September 2003 (OJ L 243,
27.9.2003, p. 1), this file is open to the public. Where necessary, classified documents in this
file have been declassified in conformity with Article 5 of the aforementioned regulation.
In Übereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom 1.
Februar 1983 über die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europäischen
Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und der Europäischen Atomgemeinschaft (ABI. L 43 vom 15.2.1983,
S. 1), geändert durch die Verordnung (EG, Euratom) Nr. 1700/2003 vom 22. September 2003
(ABI. L 243 vom 27.9.2003, S. 1), ist diese Datei der Öffentlichkeit zugänglich. Soweit
erforderlich, wurden die Verschlusssachen in dieser Datei in Übereinstimmung mit Artikel 5
der genannten Verordnung freigegeben.
 ---pagebreak--- COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                                        COM(79)257 final.
                                                        Brussels , 21 May 1979
                              PROPOSAL FOR A
                         COUNCIL REGULATION ( EEC )
                  on exceptional food aid to the Republic
                  of Malta in the form of pigmeat
              ( submitted to the Council by the Commission )
                                                f>            -< %,
                                                               5    v.?
                                                   ,, • >     ; j. ïk:]'. -
                                   ' V
                                     \ '
                                                "»    • r
                                                           -•     / •A r
                                      v-                           / v/
                                       <-· ,, :
 C0M(79 ) 257 final .
 ---pagebreak---                           EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
I.    AID REQUESTED
On 15 December 197 8 the Republic of Malta submitted a request to the
Commission for exceptional food aid in the form of 9 000 tonnes of frozen
pigraeat to "be supplied over a two-year period , including 1 000 tonnes 1
to "be delivered immediately . The reason for this request was the African
swine fever epidemic that had "broken out in Malta leaving the Maltese
authorities no alternative hut to slaughter pigs systematically *
II .   PRESENT SITUATIONS
The study of the health of pigs in Malta carried out by the Maltese
authorities in conjunction with the relevant Commission departments showed
that the only solution was to slaughter all pigs and then build up a
fresh stock of healthy animals once the requisite disinfection and disease
eradication measures had been taken . In 1978 , before the epidemic , Malta
had a total of approximately 80 000 pigs . Of these , J6 000 were slaughtered
in 1978 and the remaining 4 000 "by 1 February 1979 *
III .   MEASURES ALREADY PLANTED By THE COMMUNITY ;
In view of the gravity of the situation (accentuated by the fact that 10$
of the cattle on the island recently had to be slaughtered because of the
outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease ) and bearing     in mind that the drastic
eradication measures adopted by the Maltese Government will also protect
Community pig herds ( especially in Italy ), the disease being highly
contagious , the Commission has drawn up a proposal with a view to granting
Malta up to 5 000 000 EUA over three years ( including 2 500 000 EUA in 1979)
in support of the country 's emergency programme . This programme , which will
cost a total of approximately 10 000 000 EUA (50$ to be covered by Malta),
oomprises a set of strict measures !
 ---pagebreak--- 1 . Disease eradication measures ; slaughter of all pigs , destruction of
all contaminated meat and disinfection of piggeries and meat storage
premises .
2.   Preventive measures : veterinary inspection of imports , ban on the
introduction of any live pigs during a six-mcnth period , with the exception
of breeders on the island of Comino .
3 . Restocking measures s gradual restocking with breeders on Comino ,
renovation of pig-breeding establishments followed ty the reconstitution
of a healthy pig herd using the breeders on Comino , and strict health-
protection supervision throughout this period ( 2h to 3 years ).
IV .  ESTIMATED FOOD AID REQUIREMENTS :
These measures , though substantial , will only partially alleviate the most
harmful and serious effects of the epidemic . The lack of pigmeat for local
consumption will be a particularly acute problem , especially during the
period following the slaughter of all pigs until such time as a fresh herd
has been built up and pigmeat is once again fit for human consumption .
In 1973 Malta produced 5 600 tonnes of pigmeat and local consumption was
also 5 600 tonnes . Before the outbreak of the epidemic , therefore , Malta
was self-sufficient in pigmeat , imports and exports being minimal . Beef ,
the only possible substitute , is not a satisfactory alternative as the
cattle population has itself been decimated by disease and beef production
is inadequate anyway , even under normal circumstances .
Restocking of pig farms is bound to be a somewhat lengthy process in view of
the gestation period of the breeders and the time required to fatten
animals . It will therefore be thirteen months after restocking starts
before pigmeat will be available for consumption in Malta .
In any event a return to production on any significant scale cannot be
 ---pagebreak--- "be expected before August I98O . On the basis of statistics for previous
years , pigmeat requirements for the entire period from 1 January 1979
to 1 August I98O can be estimated at 8 400 tonnes .
V.      COMMISSION PROPOSAL S
 In the light of the foregoing and the gravity of the situation, and
 bearing in mind the other measures recommended ty the Commission to help
 the Republic of Malta overcome this disaster , the Commission proposes
 that Malta be granted exceptional food aid in the form of 2 500 tonnes of
 frozen pigneat , corresponding to roughly 30$ of the country 's requirements ,
 to be delivered to the port of unloading.       As requested ty the Maltese
 authorities , an initial quantity of 1 000 tonnes will be supplied as soon
 as possible and the remaining 1 500 tonnes will be delivered sometime
 around mid-year . This meat will be intended for sale on the looal market
 and the proceeds will be used , in line with the wishes of the Maltese
 Government and in accordance with arrangements to be agreed with the
 Commission , for thePurPoses of the programme to reconstitute the pig herd
 on the island .
 CONCLUSION;
 The Commission therefore proposes that the Council :
     ( i ) grant the Republic of Malta exceptional food aid in the form of
           2 300 tonnes of pigmeat , to be delivered in two instalments ; an
           initial instalment of 1 000 tonnes to be supplied as soon as
           possible and a second instalment of 1 500 tonnes to be suppied in
           mid-1 979 ?
   ( ii ) decide to finance refrigerated transportation of the aid to the
           port of unloading;
 ( iii ) adopt the relevant legal text
 ---pagebreak---                           PROPOSAL FOR A
                    COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC )
             on exceptional food aid to the Republic of Malta
                    in the fbrm_of pigmeat             «.«._»
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community ,
and in particular Articles 43 and 235 thereof ,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament ,
Whereas the Republic of Malta has submitted a request to the Community for
exceptional food aid in the form of pigmeat ;
Whereas such aid is required ty that country particularly on account of the
swine fever epidemic that has recently decimated its pig herds ;
Whereas the Community has taken steps to provide financial assistance for
the programme to eradicate African swine fever in Malta ?
Whereas exceptional food aid in the form of pigmeat can be considered an
essential adjunct to Community financial assistance to Malta;
 ---pagebreak--- Whereas , in view of the circumstances giving rise to the granting of
the food aid in question, this operation cannot he carried out until
action has "been taken to slaughter pigs , destroy pigmeat and decontaminate
farms , slaughterhouses and meat storage premises on Maltese territory ;
Whereas the pigaeat to he supplied by way of aid must "be mobilized on
the Community market, as stocks are available within the Community;'
Whereas the meat in question must he bought and transported as cheaply
as possible; whereas provision must be made for a tendering procedure
in order to achieve that aim ;
Whereas this food aid is of an exceptional nature ; whereas the regulations on
the common organization of the markets in the pigmeat sector do not provide
for tendering procedures ; whereas the recipient country should therefore
make its own arrangements , in accordance with the conditions to be laid
down by the Commission, for mobilizing and transporting the supplies in
question;
 ---pagebreak--- Whereas implementation of this operation would, appear to be conducive
to furthering the aims of the Community ;
Whereas the Treaty does not provide the necessary powers of action for
this purpose ,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION*
                                   Artide 1
Exceptional food aid consisting of 2 500 tonnes of pigmeat , in the form of
carcases or semi–carcases , without heads , feet or flare fat and of a
quality no higher than class II on the Community scale for the classification
of pig carcases , shall be granted to the Republic of Malta for consumption
by the local population .
                                                 .1
                                   Article 2
The exceptional food aid specified in the preceding Article shall be
mobilized by the recipient country on the Community market in accordance
with the tendering procedure . The Commission shall lay down appropriate
conditions for the tendering procedure and for the use of the aid ty the
recipient country .
 ---pagebreak---                                   Article 3
The food aid operation may "be implemented as soon as the necessary health
measures have been taken in Malta in respect of :
– the slaughter of pigs ,
– the destruction of all types of pigmeat and of all pigmeat-based
  products with the exception of preserves in sterilized tins ,
– the cleaning, disinfection , disinsectization and deratization of farms
  and all places likely to have been contaminated by pigs , pigjneat or
  pigmeat-based products .
                                  Article 4
No refund shall be payable in respect of the goods supplied by way of
food aid under this Regulation.
                                  Article 5
The Community shall cover the cost of refrigerated transportation of
the food aid to the port of unloading*
 ---pagebreak---                                   Article 6
This Regulation shall enter into fore© on the third day followxng its
publication in the Official Journal of the European Cossnranities *
This Regulation shall "be binding in its entirety end directly applicable
in all Member Stat as »
                                   Done at
                                                    For the Couneil
                                                i :
                                                    The President
 ---pagebreak--- 1.  Numbers of relevant budget headings ;
    Title 9 , Chapter $2 ("Food aid"), Article 923 *
    Title 6 , Chapter 66 , Article 660.
2.  Titles of budget headings :
    "Food aid in other products ".
    "Refunds bn pigmeat ".                                            - -
3.  Legal "basis
    Council Regulation .
4°  Description , objective and .justification of operation :
    The purpose of this exceptional aid for Malta in the form of 2 500 tonnes
    of frozen pigmeat is to help this country overcome the disastrous
    situation that has arisen as a result of the African swine fever epidemic
    currently afflicting this island .    As all pigs have had to be slaughtered ,
    the production of pigmeat , which is intended solely for local consumption ,
    will be halted completed for the whole of 1979 and part of I98O. Pigmeat
    is to be supplied to Malta in the form of carcases .
5.  Financial implications in EUA :
    The total cost of the operation can be estimated at 4*2 million EUA
    broken down as follows :
     1.  Cost of the meat :
         (market price + freezing + delivery fob + effeot of dual rate ) t
         2 500 t 1 1 226 x 1.24#1 *- 3 826 000 EUA
     2.  Cost of refrigerated transport :
         2 500 t x 140 EUA/t    »       350 000 EUA
                         Total       4 176 000 EUA
                         ■ approx.    4«2 million EUA
 I.Effect of dual exchange rate
 ---pagebreak--- This amount will "be charged as follows :
 . The amount of the refund will "be charged to .article 660 entitled  Refunds on
   Pigmeat "
    It will be calculated as follows :
    2 500 t x 150 x 1.248 =                       " 468 000 EUA
                                       » approi .      0.5 million EUA
    The cost of the pigmeat at the world price and the cost of refrigerated
    transport will be charged to Artiole 923 of the Budget ( Other produots ).
    It will be calculated as follows :
    2 500 t x 1 076 x 1.248 "   -                  3 358 000 EUA
    2 500 t x 140 EUA/t «                            350 000 EUA
                 Total Chapter 92 :                3 708 000 EUA
                                       « approx .     3*7 million EUA
 Given the urgency of the matter , the relevant budget headings will be provided
by way of transfer , inside the appropriations agreed by the budgetary authority
 for 1979 .
 6.    Control :
 Control over the operation will be exercised in accordance with the provisions
 in force , in particular Article 82 of the Financial Regulation of
 21 December 1977 applicable to the general budget of the European Communities .
 Delivery of the pigmeat will be subject to verification by the relevant
 Commission departments so as to ascertain that all necessary health precautions
 have been taken and that the food aid is used as intended .
1 .Effect of dual exchange rate .