WRITTEN QUESTION E-1403/99 by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission. Labelling of food.
20. 6. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 170 E/5 Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (11 October 1999) The right of firms within the Community to choose a geographical location appropriate to their 1. particular needs is assured by the right of establishment enshrined in the EC Treaty. Any decision to relocate an existing establishment is a complex matter affected by many factors such as companiesí wider strategies to restructure, specialise or concentrate their operations in the interest of improving efficiency. The Community has, however, a particular interest where a firm undertaking a relocation has been supported by public funds either in its present or future location. In examining individual cases, the Commission will have to take into account all the circumstances, bearing in mind that among the options open to the firm are those of relocating outside the Community, or complete closure. 2. The success of the single market depends to an important degree on Community competition rules, in particular, the rules on state aid which seek to prevent distortions and to underpin fair competition. The Commission has included specific provisions in the recently adopted rules in the fields of both state aid and of the structural funds, to address possible problems linked to relocation. In particular, the Commis- sionís state aid guidelines reduce permitted intensities for investments in officially notified assisted regions. The new levels seek to allow less favoured regions the possibilities to attract mobile new investment through inducements, while at the same time the reductions can be expected to reduce the risk of regions engaging in competitive bidding. Furthermore, both the guidelines and the structural funds regulation (Council Regulation (EC) 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the structural funds (1)) introduce the condition that the supported investment should remain in place for a minimum of five years. Finally, the Commission pays particular attention to major projects as it has to confirm or modify the support by the structural funds for such projects (investment level of more than € 50 million) on an individual basis. Part of its analysis consists in analyzing the employment effects of such projects on a Community level. (1) OJ L 161, 26. 6. 1999. (2000/C 170 E/006) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1403/99 by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission (1 September 1999) Subject: Labelling of food Can the Commission clarify the logic which allows food produced in country A but packed in 1. country B to be labelled as being of origin from country B? Can the Commission indicate the schemes for the funding of agricultural products in which the UK 2. does not participate? Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (14 October 1999) The provisions relating to the labelling of foodstuffs, as enacted by Directive 79/0112/EEC of 18 December 1978 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs (1) as last amended by Directive 97/0004/EC (2), do not allow for the possibility suggested by the first question of the Honourable Member. The Commission would be grateful if the Honourable Member would provide more specific information on the case to which he refers. C 170 E/6 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 20. 6. 2000 With regard to the second question posed by the Honourable Member concerning the Guarantee Section (Markets) of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF), these measures generally give beneficiaries the right, in certain conditions, to receive the sums indicated in the regulations governing the common agricultural policy (CAP). These regulations are applicable in each Member State and each Member State is obliged to apply them. On the other hand, for certain specific schemes financed by the EAGGF-Guarantee, application is optional. For example, the United Kingdom does not grant aid for the consumption of butter to persons receiving social assistance (Council Regulation (EEC) 2990/82 of 9 November 1982 on the sale of butter at reduced prices to persons receiving social assistance (3)), a scheme only applied in Ireland. Furthermore, since 1999, the United Kingdom does not distribute agricultural products to underprivileged persons in the Community (Council Regulation (EEC) 3730/87 of 10 December 1987 laying down the general rules for the supply of food from intervention stocks to designated organisations for distribution to the most deprived persons in the Community (4)). A list of agricultural mechanisms for which the United Kingdom did not declare expenses in the course of the 1998 financial year is being sent directly to the Honourable Member and to the General Secretariat of the Parliament. (1) OJ L 33, 8. 2. 1979. (2) OJ L 43, 14. 2. 1997. (3) OJ L 314, 10. 11. 1982. (4) OJ L 352, 15. 12. 1987. (2000/C 170 E/007) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1413/99 by Heidi Hautala (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (1 September 1999) Subject: Veterinary treatment of horses There is increasing concern amongst veterinarians and horse owners at the loss of a number of important medicines used for the treatment of horses, thereby compromising both the health and welfare of these animals. The reason is the obligation on pharmaceutical companies to establish, at great cost, maximum residue limits (MRLs) for all drugs used to treat food-producing animals. The cost is not justified for products used for áminorí species for which there is little commercial return. The EU classifies the horse as a food-producing animal, even though less than 15 % enter the human food chain. One possible solution is to reclassify the horse as a companion animal. Will the Commission confirm that such a move is being considered and, also, that other solutions are being discussed? Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (15 November 1999) The availability of medicinal products for food producing animals is a complex problem. The problem has an animal welfare aspect since necessary treatments cannot be applied due to a prohibition on the use of certain drugs, and also a consumer health protection aspect. It reflects a conflict between the agricultural needs, the required investments of the pharmaceutical industry and the public perception of the problem as a whole. The problem also has an important international aspect, as a significant proportion of the horsemeat consumed in the Community is of foreign origin. In accordance with the EC Treaty, equidae (donkeys, horses and their crossbreeds) are agricultural animals. Council Directive 64/0433/EEC of 26 June 1964 on health problems affecting intra-Community trade in fresh meat (1) applies to horsemeat. Reclassification of equidae as companion animals would deprive a substantial number of citizens of their traditional food