WRITTEN QUESTION E-1012/00 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission. Regulation, import and possession of dangerous animals.
C 46 E/102 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 13. 2. 2001 Under current Community legislation (Article 2 of Council Directive 79/112/EEC of 18 December 2. 1978 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs for sale to the ultimate consumer (2)) the attribution to any foodstuff of the property of preventing, treating or curing a human disease, or reference to such properties, is prohibited. As indicated in its white paper on food safety, the Commission does not foresee the need to modify the principle of this provision. Disease risk reduction claims are regarded as prevention of a disease and therefore covered by this prohibition. (1) COM(1999) 719 final. (2) OJ L 33, 8. 2. 1979. (2001/C 46 E/106) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0999/00 by Neil MacCormick (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (31 March 2000) Subject: Ferry services in remote areas Is the Commission aware of the absolute dependency of remote island communities, e. g. in the Hebrides, the Orkneys and the Shetland Islands on adequate ferry services, and of the need to keep open routes that would not be commercially viable in themselves? Does the Commission agree that merely dogmatic moves to privatise such services would be regarded with great disfavour by communities served by ferries such as those of Caledonian MacBrayne? Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (15 May 2000) The Commission is fully aware of the dependency of remote island communities such as the Hebrides, the Orkneys and the Shetland islands on adequate ferry services and the need to keep open routes that would not be commercially viable in themselves. Council Regulation (EEC) No 3577/92 of 7 December 1992 applying the principle of freedom to provide services to maritime transport within Member States (maritime cabotage) (1) specifically takes into account the transport needs of island regions and establishes in its Article 4 the conditions under which Member States may conclude public service contracts with or impose public service obligations as a condition for the provision of cabotage services, on shipping companies participating in regular services to, from and between the islands. Concerning the privatisation of such services, it is recalled that the Treaty establishes both the principle of impartiality with regard to the system of property ownership and the principle of equality between public and private undertakings. (1) OJ L 364, 12. 12. 1992. (2001/C 46 E/107) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1012/00 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission Subject: Regulation, import and possession of dangerous animals (31 March 2000) According to journalistic sources, the number of rare and dangerous animals in Italy can be estimated at more than 11 200. From time to time there are reports of wild animals attacking and savagely wounding their owners or defenceless persons who happen to cross their path. The keeping of such animals by zoos 13. 2. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 46 E/103 is subject to regulation, whereas the keeping of such animals by private individuals may be governed only by simple safety standards with the animals often kept under intolerable health and hygiene conditions. In Italy such animals must be registered, in accordance with the 1975 Washington Convention, but the official figures would suggest that many animals are imported and kept illegally. 1. 2. Are there any common rules in the EU governing the importing and keeping of animals of this type? If not, do all the Member States comply with the provisions of the Washington Convention? 3. What public safety guarantees are there when such animals are kept by private individuals? 4. What criteria and parameters are used to determine the health and hygiene conditions applying both to these animals and to human beings? Are there any special reasons, apart from scientific research and entertainment purposes, that would 5. warrant private individuals being allowed to import and keep wild animals? Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission (25 May 2000) Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97of 9 December 1996 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein (1) contains provisions for transport, keeping and housing of specimens of wild fauna included in the annexes of the Convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora (CITES). In relation to animal health conditions, import rules have been laid down by Council Directive 92/65/EEC of 13 July 1992 laying down animal health requirements governing trade in and import into the Community of animals, semen, ova and embryos not subject to animal health requirements laid down in specific Community rules referred to in Annex A (1) to Directive 90/425/EEC (2). Special conditions are foreseen for movement of animals between zoos. Any other measures concerning import or possession restrictions of non-domestic animals, or matters dealing with problems resulting from keeping of exotic animals in places other than zoos, do not fall within Community competence. (1) OJ L 61, 3. 3. 1997. (2) OJ L 268, 14. 9. 1992. (2001/C 46 E/108) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1014/00 by Markus Ferber (PPE-DE) to the Commission (4 April 2000) Subject: Limestone quarrying, concrete, cement and asphalt plant in the Tavira region of the Algarve There are plans for a limestone quarry in a nature and water conservation area in the Tavira region of the Algarve and also for a concrete, cement and asphalt plant. Allegedly the mayor of Tavira has already had test drillings carried out, circumventing the local authorities. Funding from the EU may play a role in this project. Does the proposed project fall within the law in terms of the nature and water conservation aspects? Was application made for EU funds for this project and were they granted? If so, what type of funds and what was the amount involved?