WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3652/98 by Cristiana MUSCARDINI Agenda 2000 proposals on oilseeds
12. 11. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 325/19 3. With respect to the protection of consumers from exposure to bovine spongiform encephalopathy, the Community is taking a precautionary approach. This is dictated by the fatal nature of the disease, the lack of diagnostic tools, the resistance of the agent to processing techniques in food and feed and the poor understanding of the details of its transmission to man and animal. Both the scientific committees and the International office of epizootics (OIE), charged with assessing methods to protect against transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, have recently issued recommendations on measures to reduce the BSE associated risks. Based on these recommendations and the evolution of the occurrence of BSE in Portugal, the Community has adopted the above emergency measure. This aims at protecting consumers and stopping further spread of the agent, by reinforcing the protective measures already in place and introducing complementary measures in Portugal and banning the dispatch of certain products. 4. The Commission is not envisaging specific support measures for the autonomous region of Madeira, other then those that are, or are about to be, adopted in the general framework for financial support to Portugal for the eradication and control of BSE. (1) OJ L 311, 20. 11. 1998. (1999/C 325/021) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3640/98 by John McCartin (PPE) to the Commission (3 December 1998) Subject: Regional aid scheme 4 Upper Shannon, Ireland Will the Commission state whether the application from the Irish Government for a special tax concession scheme for a Rural Renewal Programme in the Upper Shannon region is being currently processed and whether it is being treated separately from other applications made by the Irish Government? What other applications are currently from the Irish Government before the European Commission? Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission (11 January 1999) The Commission is currently examining the tax relief scheme provided under the rural renewal programme, notified to the Commission in compliance with the EC Treaty. The scheme is indeed being treated separately from other Irish aid schemes which are currently under examination. The Commission is currently examining the tax reliefs scheme under the Urban Renewal Act 1998, the application of capital allowances in a new geographical extension within the Customs house Dublin docks area in Dublin, as well as the granting of double rent relief, rates remission and capital allowances on the basis of the 1994 and 1995 Finance acts. (1999/C 325/022) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3652/98 by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission (3 December 1998) Subject: Agenda 2000 proposals on oilseeds With reference to the Agenda 2000 proposals on oilseeds: 1. 2. does the Commission not consider that world market conditions no longer justify the measures proposed; does it not consider that the United States has unilaterally contravened the agreement, in that it has not in fact ended subsidies for oilseeds under the new ‘Fair ACT’ agricultural policy;