WRITTEN QUESTION E-0460/00 by Klaus Hänsch (PSE) to the Commission. Animal welfare issues raised by the production of pâté de foie gras.
C 26 E/46 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 26. 1. 2001 Does the Commission find it acceptable that there are differing criteria in EU Member States for 2. assessment of the risks to health from Listeria monocytogenes, leading to distortion of competition and undermining the operation of the internal market? 3. What action can the Commission take to ensure that uniform assessment criteria are applied in this connection? Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (25 April 2000) 1. 300-600 cases of listeriosis are reported yearly in the Community. The proportion of food-borne outbreaks is unknown, but foods have been clearly identified as a primary source of infection. An important feature of listeria infection is the potentially fatal consequence in particular in susceptible categories of the population. The Commission regards outbreaks of listeriosis as very serious and asked in 1999 for an opinion from the scientific committee on veterinary measures relating to public health. The committee, which was requested to assess the risk to health from the presence of Listeria monocytogenes at different levels in ready-to-eat food, issued an opinion on 23 September 1999. This opinion is publicly available, for example on the web-site of the Health and consumer protection Directorate-general. A number of conclusions and recommendations are contained in the scientific opinion. According to the epidemiological data available, the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in food represents a very low risk for all population groups when Listeria monocytogenes concentration is below 100 cfu/g. However, uncertainties remain as the above limit is not based upon formal dose-response formulas and the consumption patterns for relevant foods are not directly available. it would seem that 2. There are no microbiological standards for Listeria monocytogenes in the Community legislation on food, except for milk-based products at despatch from establishments (Council Directive 92/46/EEC). In those products, the standard is absence in either 1 g or 25 g, depending on the type of products. In the absence of harmonised criteria, it is up to the Member States to notify others of the action they are taking or they intend to take when confronted with what they consider as a threat on the basis of their national legislation. 3. The Commission is considering the above scientific opinion with a view to taking initiatives to enhance the safety of consumers. A proposal is scheduled to be adopted this year. It must however be recalled that the primary responsibility for safe food production rests with the food producers. Furthermore, the legislation in the veterinary and food sectors is facing profound changes during the next few years as outlined in the white paper on food safety approved by the Commission on 12 January 2000 (1). An underlying feature is the increasing need for the use of science-based risk analysis. In the context of the white paper, the Commission will propose a procedure to lay down microbiological standards, and, where appropriate and after risk assessment, related maximum limits of undesirable micro- organisms in foodstuffs. (1) COM(1999) 719. (2001/C 26 E/059) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0460/00 by Klaus Hänsch (PSE) to the Commission (24 February 2000) Subject: Animal welfare issues raised by the production of pâtØ de foie gras Since the end of 1999 Member States have been required to implement in full Council Directive 98/58/ EC (1) concerning the protection of animals kept for farming purposes, which provides that such animals must not be caused any unnecessary suffering or injury on account of the way in which they are fed or 26. 1. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 26 E/47 watered. The report on animal welfare issues raised by the production of pâtØ de foie gras commissioned by the Commission in 1998 reaches the conclusion that the usual methods of production are in breach of the principles laid down in the directive. What measures does the Commission intend to take to enforce Directive 98/58 in respect of the production of pâtØ de foie gras? (1) OJ L 221, 8. 8. 1998, p. 23. Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (6 April 2000) The aim of Council Directive 98/58/EC is to lay down the main principles for the protection of all species of animals kept for farming purposes. It constitutes a legal instrument for the elaboration of future proposals in the field of animal welfare ensuring the uniform application of the Council of Europe Convention on the same subject in the Community. The Directive currently addresses the welfare requirements to be applied for the protection of animals kept for the different types of production, including the production of foie gras. The Directive also imposes a responsibility on the owner or keeper of the animals to ensure that their welfare respects the minimum requirements provided. Two Recommendations for the protection of ducks and geese bred for the production of foie gras were adopted in June 1999 in the framework of the above mentioned Convention. The Commission and the Member States of the Union actively participated in the process of drafting and adoption of these recommendations. The report produced by the scientific committee on animal welfare concerning the Welfare aspects for the production of foie gras in ducks and geeseí was used as reference for the finalisation of the above mentioned recommendations. The recommendations recognise the necessity to keep the birds in social groups and prohibit the use of small individual cages which are currently used. This prohibition will come into effect on 31st December 2004 for new or replacement accommodation and for all the accommodation on 31st December 2010 at the latest. The recommendations also call for further research to develop alternative techniques that do not require force feeding for the production of foie gras. It has been agreed that until new scientific evidence on alternative methods and their welfare aspects is available, the production of foie gras shall be carried out only where it is current practice and then only in accordance with standards laid down in domestic law. If necessary, in accordance with the provisions of Article 5 of Directive 98/58/EC, the Commission will submit to the Council further appropriate proposals for the uniform application of the above mentioned recommendations. (2001/C 26 E/060) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0476/00 by Joseph Daul (PPE-DE) to the Commission (24 February 2000) Subject: Forest damage following Hurricane Lothar On 26 December 1999 Hurricane Lothar caused enormous damage to forests in France, Southern Germany and Austria, and particularly to farmer-owned private and communal forest, threatening the livelihoods of many family farms. In the EP debate of 18 January 2000, the Commission referred to possible changes to the Structural Funds, though without promising a specific aid for this dramatic situation. However, changes alone are not enough since structural assistance goes to smaller businesses which frequently also have an agricultural operating unit that is vital for their survival