WRITTEN QUESTION E-2503/99 by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Minimum standards for the protection of laying hens.
C 330 E/14 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 21. 11. 2000 Community initiative Interreg III foresees amongst the eligible measures actions of cooperation in the field of sustainable water management (floods, droughts) within a spatial planning context. (1) OJ C 108, 7. 4. 1998. (2) Common Position adopted by Council on 22. 10. 1999, not yet published in the Official Journal. (3) OJ C 150, 28. 5. 1999. (2000/C 330 E/013) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2503/99 by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission (22 December 1999) Subject: Minimum standards for the protection of laying hens Having regard to Council Directive 1999/74/EC (1) of 19 July 1999 laying down minimum standards for the protection of laying hens and to Chapter II of this directive which specifies that the Member States must ensure that, from 1 January 2003, all cage systems referred to in that chapter comply with the minimum standards that are laid down, that rearing in the cages referred to in that chapter is prohibited with effect from 1 January 2012 and that, with effect from 1 January 2003, no cages such as referred to in that chapter may be built or brought into service for the first time; having regard also to the possibility of the Union partly financing chicken farms in the applicant countries with a view to accession; will the Commission state whether: ü the above provisions and their strict observance are taken into account in connection with such part- financing? ü it plans to establish in the near future a supervisory body with specific responsibility for overseeing and monitoring the above provisions? (1) OJ L 203, 3. 8. 1999, p. 53. Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (14 February 2000) Council Regulation (EC) No 1268/1999 of 21 June 1999 provides for Community support for pre- accession measures for agriculture and rural development in the applicant countries of central and eastern Europe in the pre-accession period (1). The objectives of the support are to contribute to the implementa- tion of the acquis communautaire concerning the common agricultural policy and related policies and to solve priority and specific problems for the sustainable adaptation of the agricultural sector and rural areas in the applicant countries. Article 2 of the above Regulation provides for investment in agricultural holdings and it is expected that most applicant countries will propose such measures in their plans. According to Article 4 (3) of the same Regulation the applicant countries shall ensure, amongst others, that priority is given to measures improving quality and health standards in compliance with the provisions on the protection of the environment. Commission Regulation (EC) No 2759/1999 of 22 December 1999 laying down rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1268/1999 on Community support for pre-accession measures for agriculture and rural development in the applicant countries of central and eastern Europe in the pre- accession period (2), states that investment support shall be granted to agricultural holdings which comply with the national minimum standards regarding environment, hygiene and animal welfare at the time when the decision to grant support is taken. In the same article it is also stated that where acquis-related minimum standards regarding the environment, hygiene and animal welfare have been newly introduced at the time the application is received, the decision to grant support will be conditional on the holding meeting these new standards by the end of the realisation of the investment. However, the new investment itself must comply with Community standards, whether or not the holding as a whole complies with these standards. 21. 11. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 330 E/15 including the fulfilment of the above In order to monitor and evaluate the application of the plans, provisions, a monitoring committee will be established for each applicant country and rules and procedures for reports are established in the plans. (1) OJ L 161, 26. 6. 1999. (2) OJ L 331, 23. 12. 1999. (2000/C 330 E/014) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2504/99 by Astrid Thors (ELDR) to the Commission (22 December 1999) Subject: New toxic substances harmful to the environment discovered in food According to an article in the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheterí of 11 October 1999, Swedish scientists have found a new substance that is harmful to the environment and causes cancer. Brominated flame retardants (TeBDE) from discarded electrical domestic appliances are now found in high concentrations in herring and Baltic herring. The concentrations are still low in meat, butter and cheese, but the discovery is alarming for two reasons; firstly the concentrations will increase as fast as PCBs, and secondly, the toxins to the from the flame retardants must be added together with other substances that are harmful environment, such as PCBs, so that the total health risk can be estimated. Is the Commission aware of this new discovery, and does it intend to take any action regarding the matter? Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission (25 February 2000) The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the answers to written questions E-3004/98 by Mr Eisma (1), P-1976/99 by Mrs Schörling (2) and to the oral question H-776/99 by Mrs Schörling during question time at Parliamentís December 1999 part-session (3). Furthermore, following the submission of a memorandum from Denmark and Sweden, a discussion took place at the Environment Council on 13 December 1999 about the need for urgent Community measures in respect of brominated flame retardants. In this context the Commission recalled that comprehensive risk assessments on three brominated flame retardants, undertaken in accordance with Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 on the evaluation and control of the risks of existing substances (4), are currently underway. When the risk assessment reports are finalised they will be presented for independent peer-review to the scientific committee for toxicity, ecotoxicity and the environment. The member of the Commission responsible for the Environment wrote on 15 December 1999 to the ministers of the Member States responsible to urge completion of the risk assessments as soon as possible. Once the reports have been finalised, the Commission will publish the results in the Official journal and propose further risk reduction measures, if necessary. Given that increased concentrations of five polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) congeners have been found in the blood of workers at recycling plants and that future Community legislation on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) will increase significantly the recycling of PBDE containing plastics, the substitution of these brominated flame retardants in the production of new electrical and electronic equipment is currently discussed within the Commission. (1) OJ C 142, 21. 5. 1999. (2) OJ C 203 E, 18. 7. 2000, p. 101. (3) Debates of the European Parliament (December 1999). (4) OJ L 84, 5. 4. 1993