WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2561/97 by Patricia McKENNA to the Commission. EU support for the slaughter of calves
16. 4. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 117/25 (98/C 117/32) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2561/97 by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Commission (24 July 1997) Subject: EU support for the slaughter of calves An article published in July 1997 by An Bo·rd Bia, the Irish food board, states that over 2. 3 million animals have been killed and taken out of the food chain in response to the BSE crisis. A total of 924 100 of these were calves less than 20 days old. Under the EUís calf slaughter scheme, compensation payments have been paid to farmers for each male calf slaughtered. Animal welfare and some veterinary groups, including the Irish Veterinary Union, have opposed the scheme, arguing that there was no evidence that it would help the eradication of BSE. These groups argued that the random nature of the scheme meant that most of the animals slaughtered would probably not be contaminated with BSE. What evaluations has the Commission undertaken of the scheme so far? Has it any evidence to suggest that the scheme is beneficial in terms of eradicating BSE? In the absence of any such evidence, will it end the scheme? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (10 October 1997) According to information provided by Member States, up to mid-July 1997, the number of young bovines slaughtered under these measures was about 1 900 000 animals split in the following schemes: › exceptional measures for Belgium, France and the Netherlands: 98 500 young veal calves; › processing premium: 993 000 male calves; › early marketing premium: 808 500 young veal calves. Only the first scheme which operated between April and July 1996, could be related directly to BSE consumer fears. It had a beneficial effect on the markets concerned. The aim of the other two schemes is to reduce beef production, thus helping to restore the beef market balance, either by the exclusion of a certain number of new born animals from the food chain (the processing premium) or by a reduction of the final weight of commercial veal (the early marketing premium). The first scheme is no longer in operation, and the other two schemes were foreseen for two years (December 1996 to December 1998). The Commission has already presented to the Council an interim report (1) concerning the processing premium and the early marketing premium. A second report is being prepared. (1) COM(97) 165 final. (98/C 117/33) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2580/97 by Marie-Noe¤lle Lienemann (PSE) to the Commission (24 July 1997) Subject: EU-Japan agreement on motor vehicles What steps will the Commission take to review the EU-Japan agreement on motor vehicles signed in July 1991? Can the Commission say whether the level of penetration of Japanese cars in Europe has increased significantly since the agreement was signed?