WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1264/98 by Ernesto CACCAVALE to the Commission. Recovery and protection of remaining Italian varieties of hemp
C 31/28 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 5. 2. 1999 (1999/C 31/034) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1264/98 by Ernesto Caccavale (UPE) to the Commission (29 April 1998) Subject: Recovery and protection of remaining Italian varieties of hemp It emerged from the conference organized by Assocanapa (Italian hemp growing coordination body) on 27 and 28 February 1998 in Carmagnola on the recovery of hemp-growing in Italy that most Italian varieties of fibre hemp (Carmagnola, Eletta Campana, Fibranova and many others) have been lost forever or are in danger of being lost because Italian research institutes have ceased to produce them for decades. Italian varieties, which were the result of centuries of selection, were considered the best in the world, with fibre yields of up to 60 % more than other varieties. The availability of Italian hemp varieties is considered an essential requirement for a return to a form of hemp growing that is not dependent on Community subsidies and would eventually become economically independent. The loss of Italian hemp varieties is economically damaging to the countries concerned by this important crop and irreversibly harmful to biodiversity and the environment. An uncertified hemp seed has been identified among Piemontese farmers, which is certainly derived from ancient local crops. Will the Commission indicate what measures should be adopted to step up research and guarantee the protection of remaining Italian hemp varieties? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (29 May 1998) As regards measures for stimulating research and guaranteeing the conservation of Italian and European varieties of hemp, Council Regulation (EC) 1467/94 of 20 June 1994 on the conservation, characterisation, collection and utilisation of genetic resources in agriculture (1), adopted a first Community programme for the conservation, characterisation and utilisation of genetic resources in agriculture. The objectives are to help ensure and improve the conservation, characterisation, documentation, evaluation and utilisation of potentially valuable plant and animal genetic resources in the Community. Council Regulation (EC) 1467/94 provides for concerted measures and for shared-cost projects. Concerted measures coordinate individual measures for the conservation, characterisation and utilisation of those genetic resources in agriculture carried out in the Member States. Shared-cost projects for the conservation, characterisation and utilisation of genetic resources in agriculture, must, as a general rule, be carried out by participants established within the Community. Priority is to be given to projects providing for the participation of two or more unconnected participants established in different Member States. Projects must, as a general rule, be concluded following an official selection procedure based on calls for proposals published in the Official journal. (1) OJ L 159, 28. 6. 1994