WRITTEN QUESTION E-0495/00 by Mauro Nobilia (UEN), Cristiana Muscardini (UEN), Sergio Berlato (UEN) and Francesco Turchi (UEN) to the Commission. Specific character of foodstuffs.
C 374 E/88 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 28. 12. 2000 The Commission will closely monitor future WTO notifications by the United States to ensure that agriculture related expenditure is correctly classified under WTO rules and that commitments are respected. (2000/C 374 E/103) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0495/00 by Mauro Nobilia (UEN), Cristiana Muscardini (UEN), Sergio Berlato (UEN) and Francesco Turchi (UEN) to the Commission Subject: Specific character of foodstuffs (24 February 2000) It would appear that there has been a considerable delay in applying Regulations (EEC) Nos 2081/92 (1) and 2082/92 (2) if it is true that, in the wake of the adoption of the basic 1992 texts, the first application for recognition of specific character was received only in 1996. More specifically, there are reports that certain such applications, made over a year ago, have received no reply. Given the important repercussions of the regulations in question, in terms of both economic and regional competitiveness, can the Commission say: 1. Whether the above is true? 2. If so, what the real reason is for such delays? 3. Whether such delays depend on the complexity of the procedures or on the operational capacities of European or national institutions? 4. Whether it thinks it would be appropriate to submit proposals with a view both to streamlining procedures and to ensuring greater certainty in determining the procedures for the above applications? (1) OJ L 208, 24. 7. 1992, p. 1. (2) OJ L 208, 24. 7. 1992, p. 9. Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (3 April 2000) the Council adopted On 14 July 1992, as part of the reform of the common agricultural policy, Regulations (EEC) Nos 2081/92 and 2082/92 protecting, in the first case, geographical indications (PGIs) and designations of origin (PDOs) and, in the other, designations as a guaranteed traditional speciality (TSGs) in the field of agricultural products and foodstuffs. These Regulations came into force on 26 July 1993. Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 (PGIs/PDOs) provides for two types of registration: by the normal procedure and by the simplified procedure. Under the simplified procedure, the Regulation gave Member States a six- month deadline from the date of entry into force (or the accession date of the new Member States in 1995) to inform the Commission about designations already protected at national level which they would like registered at Community level. The Member States sent the Commission more than 1500 names for registration under the simplified procedure. took the Commission several years to vet all 1500 applications. Following this vetting operation, the Commission registered about 500 PGIs and PDOs. Some applications were withdrawn by the Member States (about 700) and more than 300 applications for mineral waters proved not to be registerable because of a compatibility problem between the Community rules on mineral waters and the Regulation on designations of origin and geographical indications. Of the 155 Italian applications under the simplified procedure, there remain two for which the procedure has not yet to be particularly complex and have given rise to voluminous correspondence and many bilateral meetings with Italy as well as multilateral ones with all Member States. terminated. These applications turned out It 28. 12. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 374 E/89 the Regulation lays down two successive six-month deadlines after Under the normal procedure, notification of an application to the Commission. The first six-month deadline (Article 6 of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92) is required for practical and administrative reasons (translation of the applications files, canvassing opinions from other Commission departments, requests for additional information, possible consultation of the Scientific Committee, etc. ). The second six-month deadline, which begins with the publication of an application in the Official Journal, is designed to give scope for objections (Article 7(1) of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92). This is because it is essential to know what the situation is in other Member States regarding a product for which a Member State has requested registration at Community level, as well as to give them an opportunity to object if they have a valid reason. If there is an objection which deserves consideration, an additional three-month period is provided for (Article 7(5) of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92), in which the Member States involved can seek agreement among themselves. If, on expiry of this period, no agreement has been found, the Commission then has to draw up a decision to be submitted to the Regulatory Committee. These procedures are long and can vary in length according to the complexity of the application, but it is essential to ensure that applications are in conformity with the Regulation and that third partiesí rights are safeguarded. Since the adoption of Regulation (EC) No 535/97, Member States have been able to grant transitional level until a decision on an application for registration has been taken at protection at national Community level. This is designed to protect the interests of the producers applying for registration. Given the importance of the interests concerned and the need to ensure that Community registration remains credible in permitting exclusive use of a name in market counting 373 million consumers, the Commission does not think it is appropriate to propose lightening the procedure for registration of PGIs and PDOs. As regards Regulation (EEC) No 2082/92 (TSGs), the Commission sent the Council a report on its implementation in July 1999. This report indicates that efforts are being made to improve the operation of this Regulation. (2000/C 374 E/104) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0496/00 by Mauro Nobilia (UEN), Cristiana Muscardini (UEN), Sergio Berlato (UEN) and Francesco Turchi (UEN) to the Commission Subject: Consumer protection (24 February 2000) According to the current rules on the labelling and presentation of agri-food products destined for the final consumer, it does not appear to be compulsory, in certain cases, to indicate the place of origin of the product or of its main ingredient; nor does it appear to be compulsory to inform the final consumer of the fact that an agri-food product or its ingredients have been genetically modified. Moreover, according to press reports, a voluntary information campaign has been launched by 60 producers and distributors in Italy who have chosen to label their products as not being genetically modified. If the above interpretation is correct, can the Commission state: 1. whether there are any reasons preventing the Commission from submitting proposals for amending Articles 3, 11 and 12 of Directive 79/112/EEC (1) with a view to making it compulsory in all cases to indicate on the label of a product destined for the final consumer the place of origin of that product or of its main ingredient; 2. whether, the Seattle meeting of the WTO notwithstanding, the EU has had, is having or intends to have talks with the USA with a view to drawing up regulations concerning products containing GMOs or nutraceuticals; 3. whether it is aware of any genetically modified products being marketed in the EU? (1) OJ L 33, 8. 2. 1979, p. 1