WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3178/98 by Christian ROVSING to the Commission. Medicine residues in horse meat (SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER)
C 297/54 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 15. 10. 1999 (1999/C 297/070) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3178/98 by Christian Rovsing (PPE) to the Commission (27 October 1998) Subject: Medicine residues in horse meat In view of the public concern over medicine residues in foodstuffs and the fact that animals, including racehorses, need to be treated for diseases: 1. What will the Commission do to ensure that MRL (Maximum Residue Limits) are laid down for all essential medicines and that the latter can be afforded by all horse owners? 2. Since professional racehorses receive considerable amounts of medicine during their career, how will the Commission ensure that they do not end up as food? Supplementary answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (14 April 1999) The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to Written Question E-41/99 by Mr De Coene (1). (1) See page 139. (1999/C 297/071) WRITTEN QUESTION P-3187/98 by David Thomas (PSE) to the Commission (16 October 1998) Subject: Meat hygiene: Poultry Does the Commission know how many Member States have successfully fully implemented the Poultry Meat Directive (71/118/EEC) (1)? Can the Commission also confirm whether all Member States have properly enforced the presence of at least one official veterinary surgeon in slaughter houses, as required under this Directive? (1) OJ L 55, 8. 3. 1971, p. 23. Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (16 November 1998) The Commission can inform the Honourable Member that all the Member States have notified the national measures taken in order to comply with Directive 71/118/EEC on health problems affecting the trade in fresh poultry meat as amended and updated by Council Directive 92/116/EEC of 17 December 1992 (1). In order to verify the application of this directive the Veterinary and phytosanitary office carried out in 1994 and 1995 evaluation visits in all the Member States. The findings have been presented to the Member States and discussed with them. Some deficiencies in transposition and implementation and in particular in the field of the presence of the official veterinarian have been pointed out in some Member States. Recommendations for modification of the existing legislation are being considered during the preparation of the ‘simplification project’. The Commission regrets to inform the Honourable Member that it is for the time being short of staff in the sector of veterinary inspection. Further verification of the application of the requirements of Council Directives 71/118/EEC is necessary, but the Commission can only use its scarce resources to address a limited number of priorities. A procedure to recruit new staff has been initiated and the poultry sector will become one of the priorities of the Food and veterinary office