WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3568/97 by Frédéric STRIBY to the Commission. Chronic intoxication of sheep by copper
C 134/174 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 30. 4. 98 Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (19 November 1997) The obligation to publicise measures part-financed by the Structural Funds, including the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF), Guidance ection, arises from Article 32 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2082/93 on the coordination of the Structural Funds of 20 July 1993 amending Regulation (EEC) No 4253/88 laying down provisions for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 as regards coordination of the activities of the different Structural Funds between themselves and with the operations of the European Investment Bank and the other existing financial instruments (1). Commission Decision 94/342/CE of 31 May 1994, concerning information and publicity measures to be carried out by the Member States concerning assistance from the Structural Funds and the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) (2), expanded on the obligation contained in Article 32 of the above-mentioned Regulation, laying down standards for publicity and information that all beneficiaries of Structural Fund assistance must comply with. In the case of infrastructure measures, the threshold for compulsory measures is ECU 1 million for the Structural Funds and ECU 500 000 for the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG). The national, regional and local authorities are responsible for implementing the Commission Decision. Final beneficiaries must comply with the rules communicated to them by those authorities. To facilitate the task of the authorities concerned, the Commission has prepared a practical guide for their use. This guide has been transmitted to the Honourable Member and to Parliamentís Secretariat. (1) OJ L 193, 31. 7. 1993. (2) OJ L 152, 18. 6. 1994. (98/C 134/237) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3568/97 by Fre·de·ric Striby (I-EDN) to the Commission (13 November 1997) Subject: Chronic intoxication of sheep by copper Apparently there are differences between the EU Member States in the number of ppm of copper for intoxication of sheep to be regarded as chronic. This has implications regarding, for example, financial compensation in the case of the death of sheep. Does the Commission have information on the copper levels above which intoxication of sheep is regarded as chronic in the different Member States? Do such levels apply to levels of copper in the liver, kidneys or blood? (98/C 134/238) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3569/97 by Fre·de·ric Striby (I-EDN) to the Commission (13 November 1997) Subject: Chronic intoxication of sheep by copper Are there any European regulations establishing limit values above which intoxication of sheep by copper is recognised as chronic? If not, does the Commission not consider it necessary to harmonise limit values so that the level of intoxication recognised as chronic is the same throughout Europe?