WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3646/98 by Amedeo AMADEO Additives in animal feedstuffs
6. 11. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 320/63 Part II, Chapter 2, Volume 1 of Annex 16 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, second edition (l988)) (1). The Commission has submitted a proposal relating to hushkitted aircraft (2) which will build upon existing legislation. More generally, the Commission will address the environmental and competition aspects of local restrictions to air transport in its forthcoming Communication on Air Transport and the Environment. This will include an assessment of the scope and contents of a possible future Community framework on operating restrictions at noise constrained airports (including the issue of night restrictions), taking into account the specific responsibility of local and regional authorities in this area. Concerning the taxation of kerosene, at the request of the Council a study on the economic and environmental impact of such taxation under different scenarios relating to taxation levels and the scope of application is currently being finalised. The Commission intends to present its assessment of the results of this study in the above-mentioned Communication. (1) OJ L 76, 23. 3. 1992. (2) OJ C 118, 17. 4. 1998. (1999/C 320/084) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3646/98 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (3 December 1998) Subject: Additives in animal feedstuffs In relation to the ‘proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 70/524/EEC concerning additives in feedingstuffs and Directive 95/69/EC laying down the conditions and the arrangements for approving and registering certain establishments and intermediaries operating in the animal feed sector and amending Directives 70/524/EEC, 74/63/EEC, 79/373/EEC and 82/471/EEC’ (COM(98) 216 final 7 98/0131 CNS) (1), it is necessary to identify methods and instruments that reduce to a minimum the risk of possible distortions of competition resulting from differences between the fees charged by the Member States. To that end, it would be advisable to provide for a transitional period during which the countries would continue to be free to set the levels of the fees. Subsequently, harmonised amounts applicable in all the countries would be fixed. Does the Commission intend to amend its proposal along these lines and also to change the dates indicated to reflect this? (1) OJ C 155, 20. 5. 1998, p. 29. Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (15 January 1999) The Commission considers that adopting rules for calculation of fees, as specified in the proposal for a Council Directive amending the two Directives in question, is the better course of action, being one that takes into account experience in other sectors of activity but at the same time will reduce the risk of distortion of competition. The proposal for a Council Decision concerning a Community system of fees in the animal feed sector (1) does however provide that the rules of calculation will be reviewed in the light of reports from the Member States and if appropriate adjusted. (1) COM(98) 225 final