WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2080/98 by David THOMAS to the Commission. Residue testing on poultrymeat
5. 2. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 31/121 Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (3 September 1998) There are no Community directives concerning access to public buildings for people with disabilities. In its communication on equality of opportunity for people with disabilities (1), the Commission noted that many public buildings continue to be inaccessible or accessible only with difficulty for disabled people. At the same time, the Commission noted that the principles of ádesign for allí and universal access would have cross-sectoral benefits for people with disabilities as well as other groups. The Commission remains committed to those principles. (1) COM(96) 406 final. (1999/C 31/167) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2080/98 by David Thomas (PSE) to the Commission (30 June 1998) Subject: Residue testing on poultrymeat Can the Commission confirm which Member States have implemented a surveillance programme of residues of veterinary medicines in the poultry sector in accordance with Directive 96/23/EC, how many checks on residues have been carried out on poultry originating outside the EU and the results of these controls? Will the Commission publish the results of on-the-spot controls carried out by their own inspectors? Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (23 July 1998) All Member States have included examinations of poultry meat in their monitoring programmes for residues submitted to the Commission for approval according to Council Directive 96/23/EC of 29 April 1996 on measures to monitor certain substances and residues thereof in live animals and animal products and repealing Directives 85/358/EEC and 86/469/EEC and Decisions 89/187/EEC and 91/664/EEC (1). Data on checks on residues on poultry originating outside the Community are not yet available to the Commission as such controls were not obligatory before the entry into force of Directive 96/23/EC. Third countries which want to export poultry meat to the Community have to put into place a monitoring plan according to Directive 96/ 23/EC for the exported goods. Additional controls are also made at border inspection posts, but these controls are under the responsibility of Member States and are not harmonised at the European level. The Commission has already started an evaluation of the implementation of Council Directive 96/22/EC concerning the prohibition on the use in stockfarming of certain substances having a hormonal or thyrostatic action and of beta-agonists and repealing directives 81/602/EEC, 88/146/EEC and 88/299/EEC1 and Council Directive 96/23/EC on measures to monitor certain substances and residues thereof in live animals and animal products, in Member States and third countries. The results of this evaluation once finalised will be published on the Directorate general for consumer protection website. (1) OJ L 125, 23. 5. 1996