WRITTEN QUESTION P-2772/99 by Nuala Ahern (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Dumping of BSE contaminated waste by-products.
8. 8. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 225 E/203 (2000/C 225 E/230) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2772/99 by Nuala Ahern (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (7 January 2000) Subject: Dumping of BSE contaminated waste by-products I have received reports that a review of the proposed Animal Waste Directive 90/667 (1) could allow the dumping of BSE contaminated waste by-products in landfill sites in Ireland. Is EU legislation authorising this landfilling, and if that is the case what studies have been carried out to prove that this does not pose any risk. Is there any specific regulation on the handling of BSE contaminated waste (such as classification as hazardous substance)? (1) OJ L 363, 27. 12. 1990, p. 51. Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (4 February 2000) Commission Decision 97/534/EC of 30 July 1997 on the prohibition of the use of material presenting risks as regards transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) (1) and Commission Decision 97/272/EC of 23 April 1998 on epidemio-surveillance for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies and amending Decision 94/474/EC (2) allow, by way of derogation from the general rules, specified risk material and animals which have died of TSE to be buried without prior treatment in accordance with specific conditions laid down in Article 3(2) of Directive 90/667/EEC of 27 November 1990 laying down the veterinary rules for the disposal and processing of animal waste, for its placing on the market and for the prevention of pathogens in feedstuffs of animal or fish origin and amending Directive 90/425/EEC. In particular, according to this Article, the authorities of the Member States may, where necessary, decide that such animal waste must be disposed of by burial. Following the international scientific conference on animal meal and the public consultation on meat-and- bone meal launched by the Commission in 1997 and in the light of the new scientific opinions recently adopted by the scientific steering committee, a draft proposal establishing new rules for the disposal and processing of animal waste has been prepared in the form of a working document. This working document takes account of the various options for the disposal of animal waste including from animals in which BSE is suspected or confirmed. On the basis of this working document, the submission of a proposal to the Council and to the Parliament is scheduled by June 2000. (1) OJ L 216, 8. 8. 1997, as last amended by Council Decision 1999/881/EC, OJ L 331, 23. 12. 1999. (2) OJ L 122, 24. 4. 1998. (2000/C 225 E/231) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2773/99 by Christos Folias (PPE-DE) and Ioannis Marínos (PPE-DE) to the Commission Subject: Commission staff recruitment (18 January 2000) There has been a vacant post for an A5 official at the Commissionís office in Athens for the past six months. Although there has been a large number of applications ü more than twenty ü no-one has been appointed. Have all the applicants been deemed unsuitable for a simple A5 post? Is something else going on, unbeknown to mere mortals? Why does the Commission persist in not filling the advertised post?