WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3510/98 by Amedeo AMADEO Food, veterinary and plant health control and inspection
C 289/54 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 11. 10. 1999 (1999/C 289/071) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3510/98 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (25 November 1998) Subject: Food, veterinary and plant health control and inspection With reference to the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee on food, veterinary and plant health control and inspection (COM(98) 32 final) and to the negotiations within the WTO with a view to maintaining equilibrium in international free trade, taking into account inter alia health and safety aspects, can the Commission endeavour as actively as possible to support the European Union’s control policy and to gain acceptance of it by the international community so that the problems caused by the liberalisation of trade in the food, veterinary and plant health sector can be dealt with? Answer given by Ms Bonino on behalf of the Commission (22 December 1998) The Commission can assure the Honourable Member that it is making every effort to maintain the Community’s control policy in the food, veterinary and plant health sector, in particular by stepping up the inspections and checks carried out by the Food and Veterinary Office in third countries and in the Member States. It is also endeavouring to get this control policy accepted in all the international bodies concerned. Thus, as spokesman for the Community on the World Trade Organisation’s sanitary and phytosanitary committee, the Commission is presenting, explaining and defending the Community’s sanitary and phytosanitary policy, with a view to maintaining a high level of protection while minimising any restrictive effects on international trade. (1999/C 289/072) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3516/98 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (25 November 1998) Subject: Health problems affecting trade in bovine animals and swine I refer to the proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive amending Directive 64/432/EEC on health problems affecting intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine (COM(98) 0081 final 8 98/0052 COD) (1). Whilst supporting the Commission’s proposal to introduce a computerised system, I would point out that the database is not yet operative. There is no doubt that this will not help to restore consumer credibility and confidence. Can the Commission therefore submit a report on the progress made in the implementation of that system throughout the Community? (1) OJ C 100, 2. 4. 1998, p. 23. Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (28 January 1999) Article 5 of Council Regulation (EC) 820/97 of 21 April 1997 establishing a system for the identification and registration of bovine animals and regarding the labelling of beef and beef products (1) states that ‘computerised databases shall become fully operational no later than 31 December 1999, after which they shall store all data required pursuant. to Directive 64/432/EEC’. Member States are at present providing themselves with the means of meeting this obligation and the situation therefore varies widely. Given the