WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2183/98 by Sirkka-Liisa ANTTILA to the Commission. Protection of the conditions for oilseed production in Finland in connection with the Agenda 2000 reforms
5. 2. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 31/131 (1999/C 31/181) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2181/98 by Jan Mulder (ELDR) to the Commission (10 July 1998) Subject: BSE and the adverse consequences for exports of animals and animal products from the countries affected The occurrence of BSE in some EU Member States has marked adverse consequences with regard to export opportunities for animals and animal products from the countries affected. The Netherlands is an example of this situation, where the two cases of BSE in 1997 are still preventing the traditional exports to certain countries from being resumed. Can the Commission indicate what policy it is following to help the countries concerned to resume their 1. traditional exports and possibly to develop new export opportunities? Can it indicate its policy in international bodies with regard to establishing provisions which take a clear 2. risk analysis into account if trade restrictions are to be applied? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (7 September 1998) The Commission is aware that many third countries are currently imposing unjustified import restrictions on animals and products from Member States, claiming the presence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) as a reason. The Commission is making every effort, both in bilateral discussions with the countries concerned and in relevant international organisations, to ensure that Community exports are not subject to such restrictions. In particular, the Community position was put forward vigorously in the meeting of the International office for epizootics (OIE) in Paris in May 1998. As far as BSE is concerned, the OIE is the reference organisation for the adoption of standards, guidelines and recommendations, recognised by the World trade organisation (WTO) agreement on the application of sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS agreement), which affect international trade in animals and animal products. The SPS agreement requires health measures affecting international trade to be based on scientific principles. An important role is played by the assessment, as appropriate to the circumstances, of the risks to human, animal or plant life or health, as outlined in article 5 of the SPS agreement. The Commission will continue to press for the respect of the SPS agreement by countries importing animals and animal products from the Community. (1999/C 31/182) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2183/98 by Sirkka-Liisa Anttila (ELDR) to the Commission (7 July 1998) Subject: Protection of the conditions for oilseed production in Finland in connection with the Agenda 2000 reforms In Finland 95 % of oilseed crops are spring-sown, i. e. oilseed rape which requires only a short growing season. It was only in the 1970s, when reliable spring-sown varieties came on the market, that oilseed production began to take off rapidly. The areas of rapeseed cultivation were at their greatest extent at the end of the 1980s and in 1995, the first year of EU membership, when the total area exceeded 85 000 ha. With EU membership, Finlandís oilseed production too had to comply with the quotas laid down in the Blair House agreement. At the higher levels of CAP subsidies, Finland is permitted to have only 63 000 ha under oilseed. The Blair House agreement meant a reduction in oilseed growersí production opportunities in Finland and clearly weakened the economic competitiveness of this sector in relation to the alternatives. In connection with EU membership Finland was authorised for a transitional period to pay a top-up price to farmers producing bread cereals and malting barley which compete with oilseed rape in this area. On arable farms in southern Finland (an A-subsidy area) rapeseed became less profitable for this reason and the areas in production in this principal