WRITTEN QUESTION No. 476/99 by Eluned MORGAN Fresh Meat Directive 64/433/EEC and Poultrymeat Directive 71/118/EEC
29. 11. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 341/123 Regarding the increase in Community financial flows to the countries covered by the programme 5. and 6. and the possibility of irregularities, we would draw the Honourable Member’s attention to the Commission anti-fraud programme for 1998/99, which has a section devoted to protection of European financial interests in the context of enlargement and cooperation with non-member countries. The Commission has set up an operational ‘external measures’ unit within its task force for coordination of fraud prevention. 7. The Central and Eastern European countries are gradually reforming their laws and institutions to tackle organised crime and corruption, with the applicant countries taking over the acquis of the EU and its Member States. 8. Seminars and workshops on the transfer and implementation of the acquis are conducted by representatives of the Member States’ administrative and judicial authorities who work in the fields in question. Acts of the Council are also presented by the experts who were instrumental in drafting them. (1999/C 341/173) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0476/99 by Eluned Morgan (PSE) to the Commission (5 March 1999) Subject: Fresh Meat Directive 64/433/EEC and Poultrymeat Directive 71/118/EEC How is the Commission monitoring the Member States’ implementation of the Fresh Meat Directive 64/433/ EEC (1) and the Poultrymeat Directive 71/118/EEC (2)? What problems have been encountered by Member States in terms of implementation of these directives? (1) OJ 121, 29. 7. 1964, p. 2012. (2) OJ L 55, 8. 3. 1971, p. 23. Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (21 April 1999) The Commission audits and inspects the Member States in accordance with the rules laid down in Commission Decision 98/139/EC of 4 February 1998 laying down certain detailed rules concerning on-the-spot checks carried out in the veterinary field by Commission experts in the Member States (1). For red meat, the Commission is carrying out an overall survey on the correct implementation, by the Member States, of Council Directive 64/433/EEC of 26 June 1964 on health problems affecting intra-Community trade in fresh meat. This should be finalised by the end of May 1999. A report on the survey should be published and be made available on a Commission web site (at http://europa. eu. int/comm/dg24/) later this year. The reports on individual inspections in the Member States are being made available on the web site as they are completed. For poultry meat, the Commission carried out a general survey in 1994-1995 which demonstrated a number of problems with the implementation of Council Directive 71/118/EEC of 15 February 1971 on health problems affecting trade in fresh poultry meat. Following the survey, the issue was discussed in a working group with the participation of the Member States in order to check whether an amendment of the legislation would be necessary. This group did not come to any conclusion with regard to possible amendments of the Directive. The Commission commenced a new series of visits to the Member States earlier this year in order to verify the correct implementation and application of Commission legislation in regard to poultry meat production. The reports on individual inspections will be published on the Commission web site as they become available. A summary of the global evaluation will also be published in due course. (1) OJ L 38, 12. 2. 1998