WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1702/97 by Ulf HOLM to the Commission. Export subsidies for tobacco
10. 2. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 45/85 Answer given by Mr Fischler au nom de la Commission (18 June 1997) With a view to the completion of the internal market the rules of Directive 64/433/EEC (1) (fresh meat directive), as amended by Council Directives 91/497/EEC (2) and 95/23/EC (3), were extended to the national markets of fresh meat. In this Directive special requirements (derogations) were introduced for small artisanal establish- ments (up to a production volume of 1000 livestock units per year) in order to avoid difficulties in the implementation of the provisions. These derogations concern structural requirements. In addition a derogation was introduced in the Directive for slaughter establishments which handle not more than 2000 livestock units per year taking specific geographical situations and infrastructure circumstances in Member States into account. Member States may, at their request, be authorized to apply the structural requirements for small slaughterhouses (1000 livestock units per year) to these establishments if they are situated in regions suffering from special geographical constraints or affected by supply difficulties. The Italian authorities have transmitted a list of slaughterhouses to the Commission with a request to make a proposal for derogations to the standing veterinary committee. This list contained several points which have to be clarified before further action can be initiated. Therefore the Italian authorities were asked for clarification. Having received this the Commission will examine the request and initiate the necessary action. (1) OJ 121, 29. 7. 1964. (2) OJ L 268, 24. 9. 1991. (3) OJ L 243, 11. 10. 1995. (98/C 45/104) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1702/97 by Ulf Holm (V) to the Commission (20 May 1997) Subject: Export subsidies for tobacco How much has the Commission spent on subsidizing exports of EU-produced tobacco each year since 1990? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (24 June 1997) The Commission can state that, since 1990, expenditure on export refunds (budget heading B1-170) has been as follows: Financial year Expenditure (ECU million (budget)) 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 61. 87 65. 28 57. 42 36. 24 49. 86 35. 10 2. 44 The Commission would also like to stress that, as it currently stands, the common organization of the market no longer makes provision for export refunds. The last expenditure of note in this area relates to the 1995 budget (1992 harvest or earlier)