WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3548/97 by Frédéric STRIBY to the Commission. Harmonization of the legal and tax status of home distillers
C 196/4 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 22. 6. 98 Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (15 January 1998) The Commission must remind the Honourable Member that under the terms of the legislation on additives in animal feedingstuffs and the tests carried out for the granting of Community authorisation, such additives must not pose a risk to animal or human health or to the environment or prejudice the consumer by altering the characteristics of animal products. As the Commission indicated in its reply to question E-3388/97 (1) submitted by the Honourable Member, it has no information showing a causal relationship between the use of tylosin in pig feed and resistance to erythromycin among bacteria pathogenic for man. However, if the review of the authorisation granted for tylosin requested by Finland reveals any risk to consumer health, the Commission will immediately propose a ban on the product. Therefore, since the additives used in animal feedingstuffs are judged to be safe, the Commission does not consider it necessary to provide for specific labelling of the animal products concerned. The Commission does not intend to propose taxing the abovementioned products. (1) OJ C 174, 8. 6. 1998, p. 51. (98/C 196/06) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3548/97 by Fre·de·ric Striby (I-EDN) to the Commission (12 November 1997) Subject: Harmonization of the legal and tax status of home distillers The status of home distillers varies from one Member State to another. For instance, in Spain, Italy, Portugal and Greece total freedom of distillation prevails. In Germany, there is a preferential and degressive tax up to 5000° of pure alcohol. Reductions also apply in Austria. In France and since 1960, very few distillers enjoy exemption, as an order of 29 November 1960 abolished this privilege áas from the death of each beneficiary or his surviving spouseí. The remaining French home distillers do not benefit from any reduction, and are therefore penalized vis-a‘-vis their counterparts in other Member States. What action does the Commission intend to take with a view to harmonizing the legal and tax status of home distillers in the EU? (98/C 196/07) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3549/97 by Fre·de·ric Striby (I-EDN) to the Commission (12 November 1997) Subject: Unfair application of excise duties on pure alcohol Although there is a Community regulation on excise duties, application in France differs from elsewhere, leading to a flagrant distortion of competition as between home and industrial distillers. In France, home distillers are obliged to make immediate payment of duties on the products of their distillation, whereas industrial distillers have to pay only on sale. In addition, if a member of the latter category has allowed his product to age, he is entitled to a discount on the basis of 6% degree loss per annum. The home distiller is thus clearly penalized by comparison with his industrial counterpart. In the light of this information, does the Commission consider the application of the directives on products subject to excise duty to be fair and consistent in this particular case?