WRITTEN QUESTION E-1158/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. White Paper on Food Safety and the European Food Authority.
20. 2. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 53 E/87 (2001/C 53 E/113) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1156/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (11 April 2000) Subject: White Paper on Food Safety and the European Food Authority The White Paper on Food Safety (COM(1999) 719 final) was published in January 2000. Chapter 4 is concerned with establishing a European Food Authority (EFA). Chapter 5 considers legislation on food safety. Existing legislation enables Member States to collect fees for controls of products of animal origin (sections 86-87). There is a lack of uniformity in setting and charging fees. The legislative review will extend application of this principle to other areas. Whether producers should contribute to the cost of official controls of their products is an old question. If this principle is applied unevenly it will result in a distortion of competition. In some quarters it is felt that food control is a central task of the State and should therefore be paid for entirely from public funds to avoid any hint of a conflict of interests. Does the Commission advocate full public funding for official controls? If not, what funding mechanism does it prefer? In what way will the Commission avoid a situation whereby the funding of public controls leads to a distortion of competition because the different Member States use different funding systems? (2001/C 53 E/114) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1157/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (11 April 2000) Subject: White Paper on Food Safety and the European Food Authority The White Paper on Food Safety (COM(1999) 719 final) was published in January 2000. Chapter 4 is concerned with establishing a European Food Authority (EFA). Chapter 5 considers legislation on food safety. the legal basis for (Union) border checks should apply to all products The Commission says that (section 93). This is the right attitude. It is important to avoid the frequently observed situation where some ports or airports are more popular than others because of less strict checks. What specific measures does the Commission have in mind to make border checks uniform, and hence equally strict? (2001/C 53 E/115) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1158/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (11 April 2000) Subject: White Paper on Food Safety and the European Food Authority The White Paper on Food Safety (COM(1999) 719 final) was published in January 2000. Chapter 4 is concerned with establishing a European Food Authority (EFA). Chapter 5 considers legislation on food safety. It is necessary to consider whether the Commission needs to be given additional powers in the event of non-compliance with EU rules (section 94). This would enable the Commission to take rapid action. C 53 E/88 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 20. 2. 2001 1. What additional powers does the Commission feel are necessary for more rapid action in following up inspections? 2. Have any specific proposals been drawn up with regard to these additional powers? If so, what is the main thrust of these proposals? If not, when will the Commission have specific proposals on the additional powers it seeks? (2001/C 53 E/116) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1160/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (11 April 2000) Subject: White Paper on Food Safety and the European Food Authority The White Paper on Food Safety (COM(1999) 719 final) was published in January 2000. Chapter 4 is concerned with establishing a European Food Authority (EFA). Chapter 5 considers legislation on food safety. The Commission wants to introduce a proposal to abolish the 25 % rule for compound ingredients (section 100). It also draws attention to the problem of the carry-over of additives and for indicating on the label the allergens, where at present only the name of the product category needs to be given. Is the Commission prepared to carry out a preliminary investigation into the feasibility of indicating 1. all ingredients? If not, does the Commission not wish to use the possibility of indicating all ingredients? What are the Commissionís arguments for ruling out this possibility in advance? Does the Commission seek the labelling of additives which are present as a result of carry-over? 2. If not, why not? (2001/C 53 E/117) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1161/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (12 April 2000) Subject: White Paper on Food Safety and the European Food Authority The White Paper on Food Safety (COM(1999) 719 final) was published in January 2000. Chapter 4 is concerned with establishing a European Food Authority (EFA). Chapter 5 considers legislation on food safety. Health claims continue to be forbidden (section 101). However, the Commission proposes considering whether áfunctional claimsí and ánutritional claimsí can be introduced. It also wants to look at whether the nutrition labelling directive needs to be modified. Functional claimsí refer to beneficial effects on bodily functions. Does the Commission intend to draw up rules for áfunctional claimsí? If so, what will be the main 1. thrust of such measures? If not, does that not create a vacuum in respect of mentioning all claims? 2. Will the Commission resubmit its 1993 draft proposal concerning nutritional claims? If so, when? If not, is the Commission concentrating on a comprehensive set of rules for the various claims? 3. Will the Commission extend the compulsory food labelling for all foods and/or increase the number of items from four to eight? If not, what changes will be made to the labelling?