WRITTEN QUESTION E-1137/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. White Paper on Food Safety and the European Food Authority.
C 46 E/130 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 13. 2. 2001 (2001/C 46 E/145) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1135/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (11 April 2000) Subject: White Paper on Food Safety and the European Food Authority The White Paper on Food Safety (COM(1999) 719 final) was published in January 2000. Chapter 4 is concerned with establishing a European Food Authority (EFA). Chapter 5 considers legislation on food safety. The field of activities of the Authority covers the entire food chain, including both food safety and food- related matters. The Authority will be given its own budget in urgent cases and will maintain contacts with the scientific committees and the Commission (section 45 ff). Increasing the size of the scientific secretariat to support scientific advisory activities is needed to improved both the quality and the rapidity of scientific advice. A separate budget for ad hoc research will make for greater flexibility. Furthermore, the composition of the Authorityís staff is crucial. 1. What budget does the Commission propose for the Food Authority? 2. What are the criteria for the recruitment of staff? How many staff will the Food Authority have (at all levels)? (2001/C 46 E/146) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1136/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (11 April 2000) Subject: White Paper on Food Safety and the European Food Authority The White Paper on Food Safety (COM(1999) 719 final) was published in January 2000. Chapter 4 is concerned with establishing a European Food Authority (EFA). Chapter 5 considers legislation on food safety. Identifying and utilising information from within and outside the Community will be a key activity of the Authority (section 49 ff). Information is important in order to identify potential problems as soon as possible. The Authority will act as a watchdog with regard to emerging hazards. To what extent can the Authority advise the Commission on potential problems without involving 1. the scientific committees? Does not the existence of a twin-track system of advice ü the Food Authority and the scientific the Food Authority? If not, what guarantees does the 2. committees ü undermine the efficiency of Commission have that duplication of advice does not inhibit the effectiveness of the Authority? (2001/C 46 E/147) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1137/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (11 April 2000) Subject: White Paper on Food Safety and the European Food Authority The White Paper on Food Safety (COM(1999) 719 final) was published in January 2000. Chapter 4 is concerned with establishing a European Food Authority (EFA). Chapter 5 considers legislation on food safety. 13. 2. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 46 E/131 The Authority will have the opportunity of communicating directly and openly with consumers. It can provide all interested parties with direct information on its findings on both food safety and food. The Commission will retain responsibility for communicating risk management decisions (section 51). 1. Where, communication as a result of risk management? in the Commissionís opinion, is the dividing line between informing the public and 2. Will the Authority be able, on its own initiative, to inform the public of the risks of certain products, for example Listeria? If not, who will communicate this information, given its importance to consumers? (2001/C 46 E/148) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1138/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (11 April 2000) Subject: White Paper on Food Safety and the European Food Authority The White Paper on Food Safety (COM(1999) 719 final) was published in January 2000. Chapter 4 is concerned with establishing a European Food Authority (EFA). Chapter 5 considers legislation on food safety. The role of the Authority in a crisis is to mobilise and support (and if necessary implement) (section 52 ff). It will not take decisions on specific measures in crises. This will remain the task of the Commission and the regulatory committees consisting of representatives of the Member States. Does the Commission acknowledge that the current decision-making procedures have not always operated satisfactorily in crises because of the different views of the Member States? If not, does the Commission believe that the approach to crises hitherto has been exemplary? If so, is the Commission considering giving the Authority responsibilities in future for tackling crises? (2001/C 46 E/149) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1139/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (11 April 2000) Subject: White Paper on Food Safety and the European Food Authority The White Paper on Food Safety (COM(1999) 719 final) was published in January 2000. Chapter 4 is concerned with establishing a European Food Authority (EFA). Chapter 5 considers legislation on food safety. The Authority and the Commission have to work closely together (section 56 ff. ). By operating in close proximity to the Commission the Authority will remain well-informed and able to take due account of the needs of the Commissionís services. Given the need for close cooperation and a smooth exchange of information, will the Authority be located in the vicinity of the Commission? If not, is not the location of the Authority an obstacle to close cooperation and the smooth exchange of information with the Commission, as stated in the White Paper?