WRITTEN QUESTION E-0039/00 by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission. The CAP and animal welfare.
C 303 E/134 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 24. 10. 2000 Joint answer to Written Questions E-0038/00, E-0043/00, E-0044/00, E-0045/00, E-0046/00, E-0047/00, E-0048/00, E-0049/00, E-0050/00, E-0051/00 and E-0052/00 given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (28 February 2000) The Honourable Member has put a whole series of questions regarding the Poseima Programme for the Azores. The Commission is currently drafting a report on the measures to implement Article 299(2) (ex Article 227) of the EC Treaty. At this stage, before the Commission has adopted that report, it is not able to reply to the Honourable Memberís questions concerning its content. Lastly, the Commissionís Work Programme for 2000 provides for a report to be presented to the Council and Parliament on the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1600/92 of 15 June 1992 concerning specific measures for the Azores and Madeira relating to certain agricultural products (1) (Poseima), together where appropriate with proposals for any adjustments that prove necessary to achieve the programmeís goals. The set of measures relating to agriculture in the Azores will be considered in that connection. (1) OJ L 173, 27. 6. 1992. (2000/C 303 E/144) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0039/00 by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission (19 January 2000) Subject: The CAP and animal welfare The CAP currently incorporates much legislation on animal welfare. However, Regulation (EC) No 1254/ 1999 (1) encourages the castration of bovine animals, providing for two annual subsidies for castrated animals but only one for those which are uncastrated. In the Autonomous Region of the Azores, as in other island regions, bovine animals which are raised solely for meat have not traditionally been castrated, but now farmers are compelled to adopt the practice on pain of forfeiting part of their Community subsidy. Is it not contrary to the principles of animal welfare to provide incentives to castrate bovine animals? How do the principles of the CAP justify this type of incentive? Could not the Commission, when proposing amendments to regulations further to its report on the outermost regions, propose that this rule be waived, at least in the Autonomous Region of the Azores? (1) OJ L 160, 26. 6. 1999, p. 21. Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (28 February 2000) The rearing of steers (castrated male bovines) is a traditional beef production system yielding meat of a specific quality differing from that from uncastrated animals. It is found particularly in Member States such as France, Ireland and the United Kingdom that can devote large areas of grassland to feeding such 24. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 303 E/135 animals. In this type of extensive farming castration, effected at a very early age to minimise pain, is necessary to prevent fighting and obtain the desired quality of meat. Since reform of the beef sector in 1992 aid in respect of male animals is granted at most twice in the animalís life, once between the age of 10 and 22 months and a second time from 23 months. This in practice amounts to an annual premium granted twice on each animal in the case of longer fattening systems (currently steers). In the case of bulls the second premium gave rise to production of particularly heavy animals and it was discontinued from 1997 (in certain cases from 1999). So far there has been no increase in the number of applications for second age range premiums (castrated animals) but rather the contrary. The new reform of the sector has kept to this approach by retaining a single premium for bulls (€ 210) and two premiums for steers (€ 150 for both age ranges). On his last question the Honourable Member is asked to refer to the Commissionís answer to his Written Question E-0038/00 (1). (1) See page 130. (2000/C 303 E/145) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0053/00 by Torben Lund (PSE) to the Commission (18 January 2000) Subject: Nitrosamines in meat products Five consumer organisations have just published the conclusions of a survey of nitrosamine levels in a number of common meat products in five EU countries (Belgium, France, Spain, Italy and Portugal). A total of 600 tests were made. Nitrosamines, which are highly carcinogenic, are formed from nitrates/nitrites added to meat products. Under Directive 95/2/EEC (1) on food additives other than colours and sweeteners the permitted limit values are expressed in residual amounts of nitrate/nitrite in a meat product. However the residual amount gives no indication of the quantities of nitrates/nitrites added. On the other hand, there is a clear connection between quantities of nitrates/nitrites added and nitrosamine levels. This link was confirmed by the Scientific Committee for Food in 1990 and 1995. The survey revealed that completely unacceptable nitrosamine levels were found in a very large number of samples. Will the Commission therefore takes steps to: ü amend the method to measure the quantities of nitrates/nitrites added to rather than as residual amounts in meat products, ü reduce the permitted limit values very substantially, ü set limit values for nitrosamine levels in meat products, ü set up a mandatory system for monitoring nitrosamine levels in meat products to which nitrates/ nitrites have been added, and ü improve the labelling rules so that consumers are informed of the quantities of nitrates/nitrites added and of the health hazard represented by nitrosamines. (1) OJ L 61, 18. 3. 1995, p. 1