WRITTEN QUESTION E-1635/99 by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission. Calf export ban.
C 219 E/14 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 1. 8. 2000 As to the possibility that similar situations exist in other Member States, the Commission recalls what it said above about Article 295 of the EC Treaty. In so far as competition rules are not infringed, Member States and public undertakings have full competence to make investments in economic activities. (2000/C 219 E/018) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1635/99 by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission (15 September 1999) Subject: Calf export ban Is the Commission aware that since the end of July the UK Government has stopped funding the calf processing scheme? The scheme enabled calves which had been exported before the introduction of the EU calf export ban to be paid for and disposed of at a fixed price. Now that this funding has been stopped, calves have been making just £1. 00 each at market ü less than it costs to take them there. Dead calves have been dumped in public, and farmers are being forced into the indignity of shooting their own animals. Is the Commission considering lifting the calf export ban? If not, what is the likelihood of there being a resumption of funding for the calf processing scheme? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (19 October 1999) Indeed, the United Kingdom authorities have notified the Commission that the United Kingdom stopped applying the optional calf processing aid scheme (CPAS) beyond the end of July 1999. This aid, created under the 1992 beef reform and financed by Community funds, is no longer foreseen once the new beef reform comes into application (as from January 2000). So far, the Commission has not proposed to lift the ban on the export of live bovine animals from the United Kingdom. Live animals would pose a greater risk to public and animal health than meat, since not all Member States have a similar level of protection in place at slaughter to that operating in the United Kingdom i. e. removal of specified risk materials and rules for the treatment of animal waste. Until the end of December 1999, the British government is at liberty to reactivate this premium of its own accord, at the level provided for by the relevant Commission Regulation (EC) No 2604/98 of 3 December 1998 amending Regulation (EEC) No 3886/92 laying down detailed rules for the application of the premium schemes provided for in Council Regulation (EEC) No 805/68 on the common organisation of the market in beef and veal and repealing Regulations (EEC) No 1244/82 and (EEC) No 714/89 (1), or at another rate to be decided by the Commission. It is also worth noting that, as from the year 2000, UK has received a supplementary special beef premium ceiling of 100 000 premium rights until such time as exportation reopens for live animals under six months of age. (1) OJ L 328, 4. 12. 1998