WRITTEN QUESTION P-2771/99 by Mario Mastella (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Apparent European ban on wood-fired ovens.
21. 11. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 330 E/49 Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (9 March 2000) The Commission is convinced that inland navigation can make an important contribution to solve mobility problems, where appropriate, by relieving freight transport from congested road and railway lines. It considers inland navigation to be a cost-effective, safe and environmentally sound mode of transport, which has spare infrastructure and vessel capacity. At Community level, inland waterways are dealt with in the framework of the trans-European transport network (TEN-T). In this context the Parliament and the Council adopted in 1996 Community guidelines for the development of the TEN-T which include the inland waterway network at a European scale (Decision No 1692/96/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 1996 on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (1)). The guidelines identify also the main bottlenecks and missing links in the inland waterway network. In this respect a considerable number of projects of common interest have been financially assisted over the last years within the framework of the TEN budget. However, it has to be borne in mind that, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, the Member States concerned are responsible for the improvement and maintenance of their inland waterways. In addition, Member States, when applying for funding from the European regional development fund (ERDF), European investment bank (EIB) or Cohesion fund, are required to improve their transport networks and systems by placing emphasis on connections and interconnections with the TEN-T where these need to be completed. The Commission is in contact on this subject with all interested parties and organisations and also the European Shipping Organisationí. In 1998 the Commission presented a report on the implementation of the TEN-T guidelines (2). More detailed information concerning the inland waterway network is included in a complementary document by the Commission (SEC(1998) 1993). (1) OJ L 228, 9. 9. 1996. (2) COM(98) 614 final. (2000/C 330 E/054) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2771/99 by Mario Mastella (PPE-DE) to the Commission (7 January 2000) Subject: Apparent European ban on wood-fired ovens Recent reports in the Italian press, subsequently officially denied by a European Commission spokesman, have brought to light the apparent existence of a European Union directive banning the use of wood-fired ovens for food preparation, if they fail to comply with the new European hygiene standards. All this has raised understandable alarm in the gastronomic world in Italy, in particular in the traditional Neapolitan pizza sector, the very symbol of Italian cuisine, which is renowned and appreciated throughout the world, and the preparation of which requires the use of a clay oven. Press reports also suggest that it was only thanks to a series of Commission communications that Italy managed to secure temporary derogations from the ban although many Italian municipalities have already begun to stop granting any further authorisations or licences to install new wood-fired ovens fearing that sooner or later they may be banned by law definitively. Can the Commission therefore clarify the state of affairs described above by indicating whether or not such legislation exists, not least to safeguard the consumerís right to accurate information? If so, on the basis of what health and safety considerations was the directive issued? C 330 E/50 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 21. 11. 2000 Does the Commission not consider that the indirect effect of measures of this kind may be to destroy the Neapolitan tradition and inventiveness that has made the regionís pizza the best known and most highly appreciated in the world, and that there will be repercussions in terms of employment given that at this point pizzas and breads produced by hand in the traditional way are at risk of disappearing from the market? Lastly, does the Commission not consider that it should present new legislation which, rather than penalising, would secure the legality and protect the specific characteristics of traditional quality products from all the Member States of the European Union? Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (1 February 2000) The Commission is aware of the reports in the Italian press and other Italian media about an alleged European hygiene directive which could lead to a ban on traditional Italian wood fired pizza ovens. The Commission can confirm that these reports are completely inaccurate and in fact there are no existing or proposed hygiene requirements relating to wood burning pizza ovens. The European hygiene legislation covering the cooking of traditional pizzas is Council Directive 93/43/EEC of 14 June 1993 on the hygiene of foodstuffs (1). However there are no provisions in this Directive that would require wood burning pizza ovens to be banned. In fact, neither ovens, nor any other specific food preparation equipment are mentioned. The Directive covers many different types of food businesses using a wide range of preparation and cooking equipment and therefore it establishes very broad principles for food hygiene. It requires food equipment that comes into direct contact with food to be in good order, repair and condition so as to minimise the risk of contamination to food. Equipment must be cleaned, and where necessary disinfected, and the area surrounding should be cleanable. The Commission is currently considering a proposal for a recast and consolidation into a single text of all 14 food hygiene directives, including Directive 93/43/EEC. This exercise does not include any changes to the current focus on legislation covering the preparation and cooking of pizzas. The measure will addressing risks to health from foodstuffs, their production and preparation at all stages from the farm to the consumer. Where specific unacceptable risks to health are identified, linked to the production, preparation or cooking of any foodstuffs and these can best be addressed by measures at the European level, the Commission will continue to seek the most effective course of action necessary so as to protect consumer health. (1) OJ L 175, 19. 7. 1993. (2000/C 330 E/055) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2782/99 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (18 January 2000) Subject: Anti-dumping measures against non-Community steel products Before his resignation, Commissioner Leon Brittan strangely did not take the decision required of him to impose temporary anti-dumping tariffs on imports of hot rolled coil from Bulgaria, India, Iran, South Africa, Taiwan and Yugoslavia despite the fact that the Commission had found that they were damaging the European steel industry, but referred the final decision to the new Commission to be taken six months