WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1924/98 by Alan DONNELLY to the Commission. Health and safety laws on tourist sites
19. 11. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 354/127 2. The tender specifications require bulls to be progeny-tested and proof that cows have produced 4 800 kg and 5 300 kg of milk in their first and second lactations respectively. Is the Commission aware that this requirement is no longer being applied or has been relaxed, so that cows have been selected which produced as little as 4 200 kg of milk during their first and only lactation, and/or milk production of 4 500 kg and 4 700 kg has been required in the case of second and third lactations? 3. Besides blood tests, the animal health requirements specify that at least 40 animals must be assembled for presentation to the selection committee. This means that exporters have to keep animals in special lairage for at least 60 days longer than is normal, which is very costly. Does the Commission take the view that this measure is still necessary for the conduct of veterinary controls? 4. In the invitation to tender, the breed is stipulated as áred and white dual-purposeí. Is the Commission aware that farmers in Bosnia-Herzegovina would mainly like to buy Simmentals, but that this invitation to tender discriminates precisely against such breeds? Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (15 June 1998) The research undertaken by the Commission to answer the Honourable Memberís question has revealed that this is a very extensive and complex matter. More detailed investigations are necessary, involving a number of departments. The Commission will inform the Honourable Member of the outcome of these investigations once they are completed. (98/C 354/206) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1924/98 by Alan Donnelly (PSE) to the Commission (18 June 1998) Subject: Health and safety laws on tourist sites Will the Commission disclose what plans it has to draw up proposals to introduce EU-wide standards for health and safety on tourist sites such as campsites, caravan sites and other similar tourist facilities? Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission (16 July 1998) There exists already at Community level a number of legislative measures in the area of consumer protection, and in particular concerning the health and safety of consumers, which serve to protect the tourist. The Commission will keep under continual review the operation of such measures. These measures to protect consumers are in addition to the considerable body of Community legislation protecting the health and safety of workers. The Commission considers, however, that the establishment of specific standards for health and safety of the public on tourist sites is primarily a matter for Member States, and that the tourist industry too must play its role in raising the quality and safety of tourist sites to the highest possible standards. Effective dissemination of information to the tourist on minimum health and safety requirements on tourist sites is an essential element in raising standards. In that context, the Commission will ensure that existing measures are properly implemented and will seek to encourage the dissemination of information and best practice in the case of innovative measures taken in Member States in this area. This will be a priority issue in the case of future work programmes dealing with the promotion of touristsíinterests