WRITTEN QUESTION E-1128/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. White Paper on Food Safety and the European Food Authority.
20. 2. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 53 E/81 Should the regulatory bodies, i. e. the committees with representatives of the Member States, be obliged to account for their decisions if such decisions depart from scientific advice? If so, how does the Commission feel they should account for their actions? If not, why does the Commission not feel it necessary for the regulatory committees to account for public decisions? (2001/C 53 E/098) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1128/00 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 White Paper gives three reasons why risk management is not included in the Authorityís mandate (section 33). There is an implicit assumption that the current decision-making process provides a high degree of accountability and transparency. This claim does not tally with reality. In most Member States there is little democratic control of decision-making in regulatory committees. In most cases no agendas, meeting documents or minutes are available of the meetings of the committees. In other words, current decision-making is not transparent. Will the Commission take initiatives to enhance democratic control of the regulatory committees? If so, what initiatives? If not, why is it opposed to democratic control of the regulatory committees? (2001/C 53 E/099) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1140/00 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. Existing legislation is not consistent. The Commission says there is a need to review food legislation (section 64). Observers say that existing food legislation has largely been adopted in response to the single market. A review of legislation needs to be based on unambiguous principles. Is the Commission prepared to draft a general EU foodstuffs law covering the entire food chain? If not, why, and on what grounds, does the Commission reject a general EU foodstuffs law? Otherwise, when can such a law come into being? (2001/C 53 E/100) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1141/00 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