WRITTEN QUESTION No. 4046/98 by Ian WHITE to the Commission. Levels of MHS supervision in licensed slaughterhouses
15. 10. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 297/127 Can the Commission provide a breakdown, if necessary through annual reports, of the activities carried 2. out by these partners in Belgium in the last five years? Can the Commission state whether it regularly evaluates the effectiveness of the activities subsidised? If 3. so, can I see the evaluation reports? Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission (1 March 1999) Because of the length of the answer, which includes a number of tables, the Commission is sending it direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament’s Secretariat. (1999/C 297/174) WRITTEN QUESTION E-4046/98 by Ian White (PSE) to the Commission (13 January 1999) Subject: Levels of MHS supervision in licensed slaughterhouses Would the Commission please specify why implementation regulations enacted in 1995 in full accordance with Directive 64/433/EEC (1) have been regarded by the Commission as failing to comply with the level of official veterinary supervision in licensed British slaughterhouses? (1) OJ 121, 29. 7. 1964, p. 2012. Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (15 February 1999) The Commission has issued a reasoned opinion under Article 169 of the EC Treaty in respect of this matter. The principal infringement noted in this document concerns the level of supervision by qualified official veterinarians of United Kingdom meat plants. In particular the Commission has questioned the apparent inadequate frequency of veterinary controls in certain categories of establishment and the use of meat hygiene inspectors who are not qualified veterinarians to perform duties which under Community law must be carried out or adequately supervised by qualified veterinarians. The United Kingdom has admitted that it currently has difficulties in recruiting sufficient veterinary staff. It recently submitted to the Commission its proposals for resolving this problem. (1999/C 297/175) WRITTEN QUESTION E-4065/98 by Esko Seppänen (GUE/NG) to the Council (15 January 1999) Subject: The Wassenaar regulations The Wassenaar organisation, which continues the work carried out by COCOM during the Cold War, has decided to agree, in accordance with the interests of the USA and its secret services, that the export of confidential technology should be subject to restrictions. This decision infringes the principle of the freedom to purchase services within the EU. How will the regulation on the licensing of exports of confidential technology agreed at Wassenaar be prepared in the EU? On what legal basis does the Council justify approving this kind of restriction on free trade?